Rawalpindi -
9th June 2004
Mr Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, Member MQM Coordination Committee and Member
National Assembly, has strongly condemned the decision of Chief Election
Commissioner to declare the results of three constituencies of Karachi as null
and void. He demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner be arrested and the
“hidden hands” behind this decision be exposed who are bent upon
destabilising the country and derailing the democracy. He was addressing a
hurriedly called press conference at the Islamabad Press Club in Rawalpindi
accompanied by MQM Parliamentary Leader for National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar,
Deputy Parliamentary Leader Shamim Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Housing and
Works Syed Safwan Ullah, Kanwar Khalid Younus, Prof Khalid Wahab, Amir Liaquat
Hussain, Nawab Mirza Advocate, Dr Abdul Khanzada and Devdas. Also present were
ladies Members of National Assembly Shamim Akhtar, Shabina Talat and Begum Afsar
Jehan.
Mr Rizvi said that the complainant against the by-election results did not appear once during the hearings, whereas the MQM representatives were not only present at every hearing but also presented evidence and statements to substantiate their position. Surprisingly, despite the boycott of the complainant, the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Rtd) Irshad Hassan Khan acting on the instructions of the hidden hands adopted the biased and shameful attitude and declared the results of by-elections for three constituencies in Karachi as null and void. He said that the consequence of this decision would be serious for the country. He said that the hidden hands do not want peace in Sindh and would like to continue the spate of bloodbath with a view to destabilise the country. It is very sad that agencies within intelligence agencies have been formed, which are acting against the policies of the Government and furthering the cause and agenda of the terrorists. He said that because of the creation of agencies within agencies, the life of President General Pervez Musharraf is under threat and three attempts on his life has been made. He warned that the biased decision of the Election Commission in collusion with the hidden hands is a shameful act to disturb the peace of Karachi. He termed the decision as biased and against all principles of justice. He demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner be removed from his position and an investigation carried out to expose the hidden hands behind this episode, which are harmful for the country. He said that the MQM Coordination Committee is deliberating on this issue, seeking advise from the constitutional and legal experts and will decide on its future line of action. Replying to a question Dr Farooq Sattar deplored the decision of the Chief Election Commissioner and said that since 1988, the people of Karachi have been bestowing their mandate upon the MQM and the Chief Election Commissioner has played the role of the agent of MMA.