Multi-party conference rejects poll results ‘with consensus’, demands re-election

Islamabad: A multi-party conference (MPC) called to devise a joint strategy over alleged rigging in the 2018 general elections on Friday rejected the results of the poll, demanding a “transparent” re-election.
Attended by leaders of various parties, the MPC was chaired by PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) president Maulana Fazlur Rehman. It was held at the Islamabad residence of MMA leader Mian Aslam.
“The All Parties Conference has completely rejected the July 25, 2018 elections with consensus,” announced Rehman while addressing the media after the PML-N-hosted conference concluded.
“We do not consider this election to be the mandate of the public, but a theft of people’s mandate.”
In a reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), he said the leaders in attendance do not accept “the majority of those claiming to have won the majority”.
Rehman said the elected candidates of the parties whose leaders attended the MPC will not take oath. However, he hastened to add that Shahbaz Sharif had requested to be allowed to consult his party over the move first.
The PPP had earlier on Friday decided not to attend the conference, with a spokesperson saying its leadership will devise its own strategy regarding alleged poll irregularities.