Nationwide Protests Erupt in Pak Over Alleged Election Rigging by PTI

Nationwide Protests Erupt in Pak Over Alleged Election Rigging by PTI

Asif Iqbal | February 12, 2024 | 01:39 PM IST | Elections 2024, Pakistan News, Protests, World | Follow on Google News

Nationwide Protests Erupt in Pak Over Alleged Election Rigging by PTI.image/repersentional

Nationwide Protests Erupt in Pak Over Alleged Election Rigging by PTI

Protests have erupted nationwide as members and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) voice their grievances regarding alleged election rigging in the general elections held on February 8. In Peshawar, PTI members took to the streets, obstructing the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway to emphasize their concerns.

The demonstrations commenced on Sunday, with a substantial gathering of PTI employees and supporters blocking the Motorway toll plaza, disrupting traffic from midnight on Sunday. This marked the third consecutive day of protests by PTI members, expressing their dissatisfaction with suspected election manipulation across eight provinces and one national assembly seat, as reported by Dawn.

Initially, PTI had planned “peaceful” protests addressing the purported “massive rigging post-polling” in major cities of the Punjab province. However, some of these events were canceled at the last minute, citing concerns about a potential “false flag operation.” Despite the cancellations, protests unfolded in various cities of the province, including Lahore, where police reportedly detained numerous PTI supporters participating in the demonstrations, according to Dawn.

In Rahim Yar Khan, it was alleged that police visited the homes of seven independent candidates sponsored by PTI after their election on February 8, with claims of attempts to coerce them into joining the PML-N, as per local PTI leadership.

Simultaneously, political parties in Sindh also raised their voices against the alleged rigging. PTI staged protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sindh’s headquarters, while Jamaat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) blocked road connections in the province. Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) organized sit-ins at various locations in Karachi, urging the ECP to invalidate the “fake results” of the general elections.

In Sindh, JUI-F leaders and workers went further, barricading the highway connecting Sindh and Balochistan, asserting that the election results on February 8 were manipulated in favor of the Pakistan Peoples Party. They issued a threat to prolong the protest indefinitely. Meanwhile, JI staged sit-ins at eight crucial intersections in Karachi, demanding the ECP to reject what they termed as the “false results” of the general elections.

Asif Iqbal

Asif Iqbal is a seasoned news writer with a passion for delivering the latest updates to the public. Currently serving as the senior writer at VoM News, a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of diverse topics, Asif has established himself as a reliable source of information. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he consistently provides readers with well-crafted articles that cover a wide range of news categories. His dedication to journalistic integrity and his commitment to staying ahead of the news curve make him an invaluable asset to Vom News, ensuring that readers are always well-informed on the issues that matter most. You can find his work and stay updated on current events by visiting vomnews.in.