In a significant development, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday abdicated his provincial assembly seat PS-129 (Karachi) saying PTI-backed Independent candidate had secured more votes than him. JI's Naeemur Rehman returned successful on PS-129 (Karachi Central-VIII) by bagging 26,296 votes. Out of the seven provincial assembly seats of Korangi district three were won by independent candidates, two by MQM-P and one each by the PPPP and the JI. Addressing media persons, he said they were giving me the seat in charity. He said worst rigging was made in recent elections. Naeem said his party had reservations over the results. He said seats were doled out in Karachi. He further alleged that MQM leaders including Mustafa Kamal faced defeat in elections but they were declared winners. The JI emir said his opponents were hell bent destroying Karachi. The JI leader said he had the moral courage to accept the defeat. He urged the ECP to declare the real winners as returned candidates. He said he had written to the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the rigging in election.

He demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to release results as per Form-45. The JI leader said his party did not want to take people towards violence and extremism. He alleged that MQM candidate secured 6000 votes but these were enhanced to 20,000. We don’t want a seat in charity. We want our right,” said Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman at a press conference in Karachi where he forfeited his Sindh Assembly seat. He said he knew that the heart of Karachi “beat with the JI”. Acknowledging that some may not consider his decision to be the right one, he said, “Even if they have erased us, they can’t erase us from people’s hearts. We will fight for the people, democratically, hold peaceful demonstrations.” He further said that the nation “knew everything” due to social media and a “fake mandate” could not be imposed on the people. He called for making the election results in Karachi null and void and for holding the exercise afresh. Calling on the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice, he asked, “Chief justice sahib, where do the people go?

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)