Pakistan stands united against takfiri contestants of banned outfits in Elections
23 July, 2018 12:41
Civil society representatives, trade unionists and politicians unanimously resolved to continue their struggle for protection of democracy and asked voters to exercise their right of franchise against hatemongering candidates belonging to extremist (banned takfiri) groups.
They spoke at a seminar on ‘Current election situation and curbs on freedom of expression’ organised by civil society organisations and trade unions at the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House.
The speakers expressed serious concerns over “interference in the election process aimed at manipulating results and getting certain political parties in power”. They condemned attempts to “influence” voters to stay away from the democratic process,
Imtiaz Alam of the South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) claimed that barring one election held in 1970 all other elections in the past were ‘manipulated’.
He said that the media was “under tight control of the establishment, which gives instructions on a daily basis. The situation after July 25 elections would be more dangerous,” he maintained.
Mr Alam said another Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) had been created and self-claimed jihadi groups were being supported to return to parliament.
He asked the people to oppose all those parties and candidates who used religion for politics and those who were not talking about people’s right to rule and had affiliation with the “king’s party”.
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