Local bodies' elections are being held on non-party basis but it could not be termed non-political. Political activists have legitimate right to participate in it. Chaudhary Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Federal Minister for Textile Industry and Chaudhary Muhammad Wasi Zafar Federal Minster for Law, Justice and Human Rights expressed these views.
Talking to PML workers and other delegations here on Monday, they said that participation in local bodies' elections by supporting like-minded candidates was neither prohibited nor illegal. However, use of official authority or resources was illegal and government functionaries are not only aware of it but were also fully adhering to the code of conduct.
They said that opposition parties were supporting local bodies' candidates in addition to fielding their candidates under the tag of "Awam Dost", "Watan Nawaz Group" and "Al-Khidmat Group." "The opposition leaders including the opposition members of the National and Provincial Assemblies were not only canvassing but also addressing the corner meetings of their candidates.
The Federal Ministers said that the Pakistan Muslim League has not constituted any group. Hence it was the only party that was following the election code of conduct in its true spirit.
They said that President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhary Pervez Ellahi and the high command of Pakistan Muslim League was committed to holding the Local Bodies' election in a free, fair and impartial manner. It was in this respect that PML workers and office-bearers were neither using the platform nor the name of their party in the election campaign.
They also made it clear that they were participating in the election in their personal capacity and it was not illegal.
The ministers said that opposition was maligning the Pakistan Muslim League, party leaders and ministers by levelling unfounded allegations. However, despite these unethical accusations the opposition will meet a crushing defeat in the forthcoming local bodies' elections, they concluded.
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