PTI asks election commission to stop pre-poll rigging in G-B

In a letter to ECP, Jahangir Khan Tareen asks for army personnel be deputed in G-B on polling day

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday to ensure an immediate halt to pre-poll rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan.

“It is requested that you should immediately take note of the illegal activities of governor G-B and chairperson BISP and ensure that this pre-poll rigging is stopped immediately,” PTI secretary general Jahangir Khan Tareen wrote in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan.

The PTI further requested army personnel be deputed in G-B on polling day to supervise the polling.

“The Governor G-B has announced various development schemes and is even undertaking groundbreaking ceremonies on the recommendation and for the benefit of preferred PML-N candidates,” the letter added.

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“He [governor] has transferred and posted numerous civil servants of his choice to key posts again at the recommendation of chosen PML-N candidates. The Governor House itself is being used as PML-N election office. PML-N meetings are being regularly conducted in blatant violation of the Governor’s role of neutrality,” it added.

“Recently, the PML-N appointed chairperson of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) visited G-B and distributed BIPS forms at the behest of the PML-N favorite candidate again in clear violation of the said code of conduct,” the letter added.

The ECP has announced the date of general elections in G-B for June 9, 2015.

Tareen referred to rigging allegations of 2013 general elections and said “the PTI is on record for ensuring a system where free and fair elections are possible. You will have noted that after a long struggle, a judicial commission to probe 2013 general elections has been formed.”

On April 1, government and the protesting PTI agreed to constitute a judicial commission to probe rigging allegations through a presidential ordinance which is likely to be issued soon.

Read: PML-N, PTI sign agreement to form commission for poll inquiry

In his letter, Tareen recalled the code of conduct for the elections according to which no transfer/posting, development works and other activities at government level which influence the voters, shall be undertaken.

Previously, the PTI had raised questions over the appointment of Minister for Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir as G-B governor by terming it pre-poll rigging.