JI’s Naeemur Rehman abandons won seat from Karachi

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has decided to relinquish his victory in the Sindh Assembly seat, PS-129, despite being declared the winner in the provisional election results.

Rehman cited discrepancies in the reported vote count, stating that he received 26,000 votes while the Election Commission’s results showed 30,000.

In a press conference in Karachi, he emphasized his moral stance against accepting a seat obtained through what he perceives as irregularities.

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Rehman expressed his intention to continue the legal and political fight to challenge alleged electoral rigging, asserting that genuine mandates cannot be replaced by fraudulent ones.

Although he initially won PS-129 in the February 8 general elections, he acknowledged the victory of the PTI-supported candidate, acknowledging their higher vote count.

He declared his decision not to take the oath as an MPA for the seat, asserting that it should be rightfully given to the winning candidate.

The JI has voiced concerns over election integrity, alleging rigging, a sentiment echoed in protests held across eight locations in Karachi. However, the government maintains that the elections were conducted fairly.