ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s joint political opposition, comprising all major political parties that lost to Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during last month’s general elections, staged a strong but peaceful protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and cried foul over the final poll results on Wednesday.
“This protest is against the historic rigged election of the country. This is the stolen mandate of Pakistan which has been given to Mr.[Imran] Khan. There are questions that have been raised against the transparency of the election as well as the demands of all political parties, part of the alliance for free and fair elections,” said Maryam Aurangzeb, spokesperson of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), listing the opposition’s concerns to Arab News.
Led by senator Raja Zafarful Haq, chairman of PML-N — the party that secured second highest number of seats at national level including Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab — the protest included top politicians, supporters, and workers from the Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, and Awami National Party (ANP).
Some of the political notables present were former foreign minister Khawaja Asif, former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, ex-Premier Yousaf Raza Gillani, ex-information minister Sherry Rehman, Aitizaz Ahsan, Chaudhry Tanzir, Fazlur Rehman, Mian Aslam, Naveed Qamar, Abid Sher Ali, Farhatullah Babar, Qamar Zaman Qaira, Javed Hashmi, Chaudhry Tanvir, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and, last but not least, Mian Iftikhar.
Shehbaz Sharif, former chief minister of Punjab and brother of imprisoned ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, however, was unable to participate in the demonstration said PML-N members.
The politicians raised slogans against Imran Khan, his party, the military establishment accused of allegedly aiding the cricket-legend-turned-politician’s victory, and the ECP demanding the resignations of its senior officials.
“This protest was organized by political parties but the public has joined our cause cognizant of the mass election rigging and theft of their mandate,” said PML-N leader Mian Latif Javed.
“The formation of a selective government will not resolve the challenges faced by Pakistan. Only a democratic government elected by the people can succeed,” Javed told Arab News.
Demonstrators holding party flags, estimated in the hundreds, disbursed after a few hours of speeches and chanting, and rejecting the election results amid lax security.
ANP leader Sardar Hussain Babak categorically accused the country’s military of meddling in the elections. He told Arab News: “The election commission has acted criminally against the constitution, resulting in a selection instead of an election.”
He demanded a free and fair re-election and stressed that “intelligence agencies and the army should stop interfering in political and civilian affairs. Leave democracy to the will of the people. Till our demands are met we will continue our campaign.”
Opposition parties protest ‘rigged election’ outside ECP
Opposition parties protest ‘rigged election’ outside ECP
- Mandate stolen and given to Imran Khan, allege former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders
- Opposition parties accuse military of meddling in polls
Israel defends Somaliland move at UN amid concerns over Gaza motives
- Some states question if recognition part of a bid to relocate Palestinians or establish military bases
- US President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza states: "No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return"
- US accuses Security Council of double standards after Western countries recognized Palestinian state
UNITED NATIONS: Israel defended on Monday its formal recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, but several countries at the United Nations questioned whether the move aimed to relocate Palestinians from Gaza or to establish military bases.
Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday.
The 22-member Arab League, a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa, rejects “any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases,” Arab League UN Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz told the UN Security Council.
“Against the backdrop of Israel’s previous references to Somaliland of the Federal Republic of Somalia as a destination for the deportation of Palestinian people, especially from Gaza, its unlawful recognition of Somaliland region of Somalia is deeply troubling,” Pakistan’s Deputy UN Ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon told the council.
Israel’s UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the remarks or address any of them in its statement at the council meeting. In March, the foreign ministers of Somalia and Somaliland said they had not received any proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza.
US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza states: “No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return.”
Israel’s coalition government, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in its history, includes far-right politicians who advocate the annexation of both Gaza and the West Bank and encouraging Palestinians to leave their homeland.
Somalia’s UN Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said council members Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia “unequivocally reject any steps aimed at advancing this objective, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia.”
SOMALILAND VS PALESTINIAN STATE
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy — and relative peace and stability — since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.
“It is not a hostile step toward Somalia, nor does it preclude future dialogue between the parties. Recognition is not an act of defiance. It is an opportunity,” Israel’s Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Miller told the council.
In September, several Western states, including France, Britain, Canada and Australia announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, joining more than three-quarters of the 193 UN members who already do so.
Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce said: “This council’s persistent double standards and misdirection of focus distract from its mission of maintaining international peace and security.”
Slovenia’s UN Ambassador Samuel Zbogar disputed her argument, saying: “Palestine is not part of any state. It is illegally occupied territory ... Palestine is also an observer state in this organization.”
He added: “Somaliland, on the other hand, is a part of a UN member state and recognizing it goes against ... the UN Charter.”
Israel said last week that it would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. The former British protectorate hopes Israeli recognition will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to global markets.
