MQM-P urges ECP to stop uplift works by municipal agencies

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately impose a ban on the development works being carried out by the municipal agencies after the announcement of the poll schedule so that these activities do not influence the outcome of the general elections.

MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui made this demand in his letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan on Wednesday. Siddiqui wrote to the CEC that development works being carried out by the municipal agencies have a bearing on the outcome of the general elections.

He informed the CEC that the mayors of cities and the chairmen of municipal towns have been continuously inaugurating new development projects in their respective areas.

He said that such development works should come to a halt after the announcement of the election schedule in accordance with the electoral laws, rules and regulations.

He also said the mayors and other elected local government leadership have been violating these electoral rules by extravagantly spending money from the public exchequer.

Dr Siddiqui said that these activities are tantamount to sabotaging the efforts of the ECP to ensure fairness, impartiality and freedom in the upcoming general elections.

He demanded that the ECP immediately step in and impose a ban on development works being carried out in different electoral constituencies. He maintained that the ECP is under an obligation to provide a level playing field to all the candidates nominated by the contesting political parties.