The PML-N, condemning the 'fudging' of results of Local Bodies elections in favour of government-backed candidates, alleged that the election staff, after greasing their palms, also resorted to manipulate the results.
PML-N Central Secretary Finance, Mohammad Pervaiz Malik, made these allegations while speaking to a delegation of PML-N elected Nazims and councillors from Lahore here on Monday.
He maintained that change of results was an unfortunate and alarming development. "It was another scar on the face of the government, which has not only questioned the legitimacy of elections, the process of democracy but tarnished image of Pakistan abroad," he added.
He alleged that there were numerous complaints, in which results were changed after the elections by taking illegal gratification between Rs 400,000 and Rs 1 million.
In this connection, he cited the example of UC-138 Lahore and UC-57 Sheikhupura. "A number of other UCs results were still awaiting and the notifications yet to be issued for which the candidates were running pillar to post," he added.
According to him, despite change in wards, voter lists, elimination of names of opponent voters, win-over of potential candidates through threats and greed, irregularities in polling stations and casting of fake votes, the opposition parties won more than 50 percent seats.
The government claimed 80 percent seats and to meet the target they were now resorting to change the result in connivance with the election staff.
This was against all norms of politics, democracy and electoral process, he deplored.
"The allegations regarding the rigging and change of result were not simply levelled by the opposition parties but human rights organisations, foreign observers, NGOs, and the national and international press also witnessed the unlawful practice," he observed.
He also deplored the government for not taking the responsibility to rectify the fault and on top of that it was saying that those who have complaints should go to the courts.
He called for high level judicial inquiry into the incidents of rigging, change of results and incidents of lawlessness.