BOYCOTT OF LOCAL BODIES POLLS BY THE PEOPLE A REFERENDUM IN FAVOUR OF THE MQM AND AGAINST THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT

London -31 May 2001

The people of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas Divisions today delivered a referendum in favour of the MQM by boycotting the sham local Bodies Elections in Hyderabad Division and Mirpurkhas Divisions and a devastating blow to the Military Regime by rejecting its appeal to participate in the polls.

Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) had called on the people to distance themselves from the farcical Local Bodies Elections in the Hyderabad Division and the Mirpurkhas Division staged by the unconstitutional and illegal military government.

The independent NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organisations), national and international media monitoring the polls reported that turnout was almost negligible. The polling booths presented a deserted look in the whole of the Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas Divisions.

Reliable sources disclosed that the state intelligence agencies and the establishment were stamping the ballot papers during the late night after the closing of the polls to manipulate the turnout.