Jamaat-e-Islami leader alleges rigging in 2024 general election

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) Karachi Chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Tuesday raised allegations of rigging in the 2024 general election.

According to sources, Rehman asserted that the electoral process was marred by irregularities that cast serious doubts on the credibility of the results.

Expressing his concerns, Rehman stated, “Rigging is a very small word to describe what occurred. The results announced by the returning officers (RO) were questionable.”

He said that such actions amounted to an attack on democracy and undermined the will of the people, urging that the sanctity of public opinion should be respected.

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Rehman pointed to form-45 issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as concrete evidence of his claims, saying that the validity of the election outcome should be assessed based on what is written on them.

He explained, “We possess form-45, which serves as official documentation of the election results. It is deeply concerning that despite possessing these forms, the announced results contradict the numbers recorded on them.”

Form-45 is a document used during electoral voting that contains important details about the polling station, such as the station number, area name, total number of people who can vote, total number of votes cast, and a detailed list of votes for each person running from a particular constituency. Candidates can check their votes using form-45.

Rehman said he was resolute in his stance against what he claims is electoral rigging. He said he was firm in his commitment to upholding ethical standards and the principles of Jamaat-e-Islami. “I resigned from my position because I made a promise to the public during the election campaign that we would not claim a single vote through fraud or rigging. We must adhere to the mandate bestowed upon us by the people,” he added.

Rehman vowed to pursue legal avenues to address the alleged electoral irregularities. “We will protest democratically and politically within the legal framework. We have approached the judiciary and will continue to fight in the election commission to defend public opinion,” he said.

The JI leader underlined the importance of standing by the truth even in the face of personal sacrifice. “I will not align myself with individuals who compromise their morals and damage the democratic process. Our struggle will continue until justice is served and the voice of the people is rightfully respected”, he said.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Raoof Hasan announced that it will form a coalition government with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) in both the center and Punjab while it will team up with the JI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.