PML-N accuses govt of pre-poll rigging

Saad Rafique warns of instant protest if party activists are arrested before cantonment elections

LAHORE:

Accusing the government of trying to rig the upcoming cantonment board elections, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday to take cognisance of the violations of election rules.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Rafique, also a PML-N member of the National Assembly (MNA), warned the government of an instant reaction, in case any of his party’s activists were arrested before or during the elections.

The former railways minister said that it had come to their knowledge that Prime Minister Imran Khan had instructed the provincial government to rig the cantonment board elections, especially in Lahore, Gujranwala, Nowshera, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Multan.

Read JUI-F announces support for PML-N in RCB elections

To substantiate his accusations, he said that they have released a picture of two independent candidates on social media, who held meeting with the prime minister. “The two, while under pressure, have had to pull out of the elections later, he claimed.

Khawaja Saad Rafique alleged that the Punjab police planned to arrest the party activists under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) around 48 to 72 hours prior to the election. He also accused the government of flouting the ECP ban on transfers and postings.

“If any of our workers are arrested, we will instantly take to the roads along with our workers,” he warned. “The government is already sitting on a powder keg and any attempt to create unrest will be akin to lighting the fuse,” he said.

He urged the ECP to take note of the misuse of authority by the people in power and their attempts to influence the elections by “distributing cash and attempting to pressurise the returning officers (ROs)”. He added that “the ECP should ensure a level-playing field for all parties”.

Read PTI calls for Pakistan Army, Rangers’ oversight of cantonment polls

Rafique repeated his party’s demand for extending the voting time from 8am till 5pm, instead of 8am to 4pm. He added that the election results must be announced on the election day, which is September12 and not on 17 September, as announced by the election supervisor.

Khawaja Saad Rafique was flanked by senior party leaders including Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Uzma Bukhari and Samiullah Khan. At the press conference, he evaded the questions regarding the existence of two narratives in the party.