ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman on Monday condemned the attack on a convoy of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Khairpur which took the life of a party worker and left 30 others, including PPP’s candidate for PS-32 Nawab Wasan and NA-210 Khairpur III candidate Javeed Shah Gillani, injured.
“I offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Yasir Kalhoro and prayers for the speedy recovery for the injured. Your service for democracy will not go waste,” said Rehman in a statement. The senator expressed her dismay at the lack of security during the election season, “This bout of violence in the run-up to the election is sadly aimed at undermining our democracy and deterring people from being active participants in the democratic process. It is unacceptable and extremely alarming that candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, are being mobbed, harassed and threatened in their rallies and meetings while banned organisations are being mainstreamed”.
The senator continued: “We have raised the issue of election-related violence and lack of security before the ECP and on the floor of the House several times over the course of this election cycle. Yet, here we are, with headlines of election-related violence almost every day. I respect the bravery and commitment shown by candidates and campaign workers to carry on with their campaign activities despite the lack of security and heightened threats,” she added.
“This election is pivotal to Pakistan’s democratic transition, which must adhere to terms outlined in the constitution. I hope that on the July 25, we witness a violence free polling day and the people of Pakistan turn out to exercise their right to vote. More people are registered to vote now than the last election and the number of women registered to vote has also remarkably increased. These are the fundamentals that strengthen our young and fragile democracy. This must be celebrated and hopefully will be reflected in the voting turn out,” concluded Rehman.
Published in Daily Times, July 24th 2018.
