Bilawal Cries Foul As Moazzam Abbasi Of GDA Wins In PPP’s Stronghold, Larkana

PPP lost its stronghold in Larkana following the victory of Moazzam Abbasi of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) in the by-elections held in the constituency PS-11.

Moazzam Khan Abbasi bagged 31,557 votes according to unofficial results. The candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Jamil Soomro could only secure 25,700 votes.

Polling stations

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), 138 polling stations were set up in the constituency for the 152,614 registered voters.

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Police was on high alert during the election and 20 polling stations were declared sensitive, needing heightened security.

PPP violated the rules?

During the voting process, various political leaders from PPP such as Khursheed Junejo, Burhan Chandio and Sohail Anwar Siyal visited polling stations. According to district returning officer (DRO), it was in violation of the election rules.

The ECP monitoring team reported their visits and said that they were obstructing the polling process by visiting the polling stations.

Who did JUIF support?

Despite JUIF Chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s recent announcement of marching towards Islamabad to protest against the PTI government, JUIF chose to back the candidate of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Moazzam Abbasi. This is significant given the fact that most of the political parties comprising GDA stand in solidarity with the ruling, PTI.

JUIF’s support can, in part be attributed to PPP’s reluctance to join the Maulana’s anticipated long march and dharna (sit-in).

Bilawal cries foul

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari lamented his party’s loss on social media and blamed “other forces” for the humiliating defeat.

“Our candidate wasn’t even allowed inside polling stations.”

-Bilalwal Bhutto Zardari

The PPP’s chairman praised the workers for earnestly campaigning for the by-polls despite numerous hurdles thrown at them.

Im proud of PPP workers for fighting an honorable election. Despite immense pressure form the establishment.

From pre-poll with NAB arresting & sending notices to PPP workers & their families. 1/5 #PS11

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 17, 2019

Bilawal also said that the women voters of PPP were harassed by the polling agents.

On polling day, Rangers took over the inside of polling stations. harassed our women voters, threw out our polling agents, and deliberately slowed polling. Women polling stations where PPP preforms well were purposely started hours late. 2/5 #PS11

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 17, 2019

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Since morning media was reporting women voters they were threatened them to vote for GDA. Despite our pleas, ECP did not take notice.
3/5 #Ps11

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 17, 2019

Our candidate wasn’t even allowed inside polling stations. We kept asking ECP to intervene but its malafide intent was apparent in its silence.

Despite all this political engineering PPP has reduced the GDA/JUIF/PTI+👽 lead by 5,000 votes in less than a year. 4/5 #PS11

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 17, 2019

Bilawal Bhutto vowed to challenge the rigging in the PS-11 Larkana by-election at every forum to expose the “selection” of GDA’s candidate.

We will challenge this rigging at every forum. The truth can’t be hidden. We will expose this selection. We will have a re-election and take back this seat. 5/5 #PS11

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 17, 2019