Dr. Yasmin Raashid advisor to PTI Chairman said after severe violations of election code of conduct in NA-122 by-elections by PML-N, now when on 31stOctober first phase of local bodies elections in Punjab is to be held, Punjab government on Tuesday has approved 26 development schemes. The toothless Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which was hand in glove with PML-N, has turned a blind eye on pre poll rigging of ruling party she added. She said to play fair and square is not in PML-N blood, the Rs341 billion Kissan package was announced to rig the local bodies elections and when ECP suspended the Kissan package, Sharif Brothers, the rigging masters took the legal cover. Sharif Brothers needs to set an example of fair election instead of creating hurdles in making the election process fair and equal for all contestants she added. She said these development schemes are amounting to pre-poll rigging; ruling party contestants would use the money to buy votes. Unfortunately ECP is least bothered to look into blatant pre-poll rigging she added.
PTI Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas said power hungry Sharif Brothers have the habit of buying votes by hook or by crook. Sharif Brothers have crafted another way to spend public funds and give handouts to buy votes through development schemes and so-called relief packages she added. She said the ECP code of conduct for Local Bodies polls categorically states that the political parties and candidates participating in the elections shall not offer or announce any financial help to any person or institution after the announcement of schedule for elections. Through Kissan package, the government is to provide cash support of Rs5, 000 to farmers she added. She termed announcement of Rs 27.872 billion development schemes at eleventh hour ahead of local bodies election is outright pre-poll rigging. Punjab government not only announcing billions of rupees development schemes but transfer of posting of police officials in the province is also on the rise she added. She said IG Punjab, Mushtaq Sukhera is working on political agenda of Sharif Brothers and helping them to rig the elections. To facilitate Sharif Brothers on Tuesday Mushtaq Sukhera has issued transfer and posting order for 24 police officers in the districts where local bodies elections are to be held. She urged the Chief Election Commissioner to take notice of development schemes and police transfer posting in the province.