Development funds for votes: ECP summons K-P chief secretary over pre-poll rigging complaints

Asked to explain why funds worth Rs80 million were released after the announcement of LG polls schedule

ISLAMABAD: Election authorities have summoned Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief secretary to appear before the commission on May 14 to give his point of view over complaints regarding pre-poll rigging by provincial government in the upcoming local bodies’ elections in the province.

The ECP on Monday served a notice to the provincial chief secretary after receiving complaints from a local leader of Awami National Party (ANP).

Rozi Khan, the district secretary information for ANP in Mardan had filed a petition with the commission alleging that in order to sway the voters in its favour, the provincial government had sanctioned funds worth Rs80 million in his area for different development projects.

After the gap of nine years, LG polls are scheduled to be held in K-P on May 30. Under ECP’s code of conduct no development scheme can be announced once the election schedule has been announced.

“You are required to explain as to why the amount (Rs80 million) are sanctioned in violation of code of conduct on April 24, 2015 after the election schedule was announced, and why it should not be treated as pre-poll rigging and action be not taken against K-P” ECP said in its notification. It also asked the chief secretary to appear on May 14 to explain K-P government’s position.

CEC, ECP does not have any social media account

ECP on Monday clarified that neither the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza nor the commission itself had any social media account on popular networsk such as facebook, twitter etc.