Centre, KP govt accused of influencing PK-8 by-poll

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, has accused the federal and provincial governments of influencing the by-election on constituency PK-8.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, former provincial minister and PPP leader Liaqat Shabab asked the chief election commissioner to take note of the reported interference by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government in the by-election scheduled to be held on May 12. The seat fell vacant due to death of PML-N MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat.

He claimed that the federal government had approved installation of more than 200 electricity transformers in PK-8 while the PTI has accelerated development works in all the union councils of the constituency ahead of the by-poll.

“We have requested EC to stop the governments from influencing voters till May 12 to ensure free and fair election,” he said, demanding transfer of assistant returning officer Irfan Ali, who is reportedly a relative of a candidate.

Recalling his experiences of the previous elections, the PPP leader asked the government to deploy Rangers, instead of police, to ensure free and fair elections. He urged the EC to stop pre-poll rigging and allow the candidates to get votes on the basis of their performance only. Liaqat Shabab challenged Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to hold a debate with him and compare the performance of his government with that of the previous government of the PPP.