Pakistani Political Parties Term Elections As Battle Between Forces ‘For And Against Taliban’

Islamabad, May 2, IRNA – Leaders of 3 major political parties here Wednesday called upon prominent clerics and scholars to issue a religious decree (fatwa) against terrorism and termed elections as battle between forces which were for and against Taliban, local media reported. Pakistan Peopleˈs Party (PPP), Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP) also expressed apprehensions as to whether elections in the current circumstances could be held in a free and transparent manner. These three parties which are considered progressive have been facing terrorist attacks recently forcing them to restrict their election campaigns. Dozens of political activists from PPP, MQM and ANP have been killed in these attacks. PPP’s Rehman Malik, MQM’s Farooq Sattar and ANP’s Shahi Syed addressed a news briefing in Karachi. They questioned why some political parties have been given freedom to carry out their election activities while others have become constant target for the extremists. They said a conspiracy was being hatched to ensure that right wing parties come to power in the May 11 elections. They urged the people to support them in the polls and defeat the ˈnefarious designs of extremists and terroristsˈ. MQM’s Farooq Sattar said progressive parties were being prevented from actively participating in election campaigns. “The election campaign is being dictated by the Taliban and not the Election Commission,” he asserted. The leaders of PPP, MQM and ANP welcomed the remarks of General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani that the war against terrorists was Pakistan’s war./end