PTI alleges PML-N trying to influence LB polls in Cantts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Station Commander Rawalpindi Cantonment against alleged attempt by the ruling PML-N to politicise the upcoming local bodies (LB) polls in cantonments.
PTI’s central leader, who is also Secretary General of the party’s North Punjab chapter Zahid Hussain Kazmi, through a letter, has invited the attention of the ECP and station commander towards, what he alleged, unfair advantage being enjoyed by the ruling PML-N in Rawalpindi with regards to LB polls preparations.
Kazmi has called for conduct of the electoral exercise in a neutral and transparent manner, ensuring level-playing to all in the contesting arena.
While offering all possible assistance for the conduct of polls in transparent manner, Kazmi charged that the ruling PML-N’s bigwigs having long association with the officials of the Cantonment Boards were trying to influence the proposed polls.
He alleged that some officials of the boards were relatives of local MNAs and Building Assessment Committee: moreover, six-seven schools to be used for polling stations, belong to PML-N affiliated persons.
He pointed out that revenue departments had suddenly become overactive towards remittances of taxes while the aspirants were showcasing their influence at problem solving and conversion of financial dues into easy instalments. He went on to allege that some police stations were being used to harass people and prospective candidates while these aspirants were providing services for resolution of artificially created problems.
Kazmi charged some prospective candidates had installed their own or their party’s plaques on development works carried out by the army or the Cantonment Boards.
He has floated some proposals to rectify the situation, which include: entry of all politically affiliated individuals should be banned in Cantonment Board offices and their existing entry and parking passes should be cancelled.
Politically affiliated individuals, he stressed, should be suspended from all regular and honorary positions of the board till elections, to maintain neutrality, and officials of the Cantonments should be asked to stop entertaining political persons in and outside their offices.
He pointed out that the sudden surge in sanitation services in selective areas should be brought under check and officials be held accountable. Senators, MNAs and MPAs should be stopped from taking part in canvassing in wards, he said.
Kazmi proposed that military personnel should be deployed inside polling stations on the polling day and steps must be taken to ensure implementation of the Code of Conduct in letter and spirit. He has dispatched a copy of the letter to the Corps Commander and RPO, Rawalpindi.