Pak's multi-party conference demands re-election

A multi-party conference (MPC) was called for by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to concoct a strategy over the alleged rigging of the General Elections 2018.

Chaired by PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the MPC rejected the poll results and demanded a transparent re-election.

"The All Parties Conference has completely rejected the July 25, 2018 elections with consensus. We do not consider this election to be the mandate of the public, but a theft of people's mandate," The Dawn quoted Rehman, as saying.

Talking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Rehman said the MPC does not accept the majority claimed by the party.

A movement will be launched and protests will be held to demand re-elections, the schedule for which would be decided in a day or two, he added.

The MPC was attended by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Senator Sirajul Haq, Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, National Party's Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and several MMA leaders.

PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chaudhry Tanveer and Khurram Dastagir and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leaders Mustafa Kamal, Raza Haroon and Waseem Ahmed also participated in the Multi-Party Conference.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto in a press conference on Friday apologised for not having attended the meeting.

However, he told the media present there that his party, too, rejected the election process and the results.

He further demanded the resignation of the Election Commissioner for failing to conduct transparent polls.

"We don't accept the results of the elections. PPP will sit in opposition in the centre," Geo News quoted Bilawal Bhutto, as saying.

As per the ECP's preliminary results, PTI has won 117 seats, followed by PML-N and Pakistan People's Party (PPP), who are in the second (64 seats) and third positions (43 seats) respectively.