Anti-PTI parties protest outside poll body office

Islamabad, Aug 8  Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, Bilawal Bhutto-led PPP, Muttahida Majlis-e-Alam -- an alliance of religious parties -- and several others aligned against Prime Minister in-waiting Imran Khan's PTI, staged a protest outside the Election Commission office here on Wednesday.

The protest was held against the alleged electoral fraud during the July 25 general elections. It will be headed by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) President Shehbaz Sharif who is set to join it later, Geo News reported. 

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman told the media that it was necessary to remain peaceful and demanded the resignation of the poll body officials. 

"We will go to the Parliament and unite political parties," she said.

PML-N's Raja Zafarul Haq claimed that the election results did not reflect the voters' choice. "We want to tell the world that the public rejects (these) elections. We are united on this matter," he said, adding that the Election Commission was not allowed to fulfil its duty. 

Commenting on the developments in the federal capital, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the opposition parties had the right to stage a peaceful protest. "We are not afraid at all. (The opposition) can request to open any constituency and examine the record, which is safe with poll body," he said. 

Qureshi claimed that re-tabulation in more than thirty constituencies had already taken place but the opposition did not gain anything from the exercise. "It is but the opposition's right to request recount." 

Meanwhile, the Islamabad police devised a security plan in view of the protest, under which only members of Parliament were to be allowed to walk up to the Election Commission office.