NA candidate quits elections due to violence
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—MMA supported candidate of NA-54, Rawalpindi Cantt; Asghar Ali Mubarak, has called it a day by quitting elections in face of violence to his voters, on the hands of PPP and PML(N) supporters. Speaking at a press conference at Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club, here yesterday, the candidate accused supporters of PPP and PML(N) of scaring his voters through violence on the election day, as a result of which he boycotted the elections.
It may be mentioned here that Asghar Ali Mubarak is the only renowned journalist of Pakistan who was contesting general elections. Asghar further expressed that the supporters of the two most popular political parties; PPP and PML(N), which have been promising true democracy, tore away the candidates’ posters and banners while also disrupting his polling camps at various spots. “The parties which have been whining of rigging in the elections, time and time again, have themselves stooped low and have adopted cheap tactics while rigging elections”, he accused.
The candidate fumed that in his residential constituency, i.e. Carriage Factory Colony, the voters were given six threats while a goon even tried to beat him up. It is pertinent to mention here that there was no army personnel, reserve force or cop at the aforementioned polling station, whatsoever and thus, the ‘fool-proof’ security arrangements as promised by the Election Commission remained nothing but false statements, issued and done with.
Asghar Ali Mubarak further claimed that the women of her constituency were hindered from reaching the polling booths and the candidates bearing electoral sign of scooter were misdirected from one polling station to another and so on.
Candidate of NA-54, Asghar Ali Mubarak, demanded of strong action against the supporters of PPP, PML(N) and all such party supporters who have not followed any electoral ethics and would in fact, file a petition in the Supreme Court, in this regard.