Accusing of mass rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) legislative assembly elections, PML-N has said that the PPP would form a de facto government in the region. "The PML-N would not accept it as a de jure government of the PPP in Gilgit-Baltistan. The media reports, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Free and Fair Election Network have confirmed the rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan elections", PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq said while addressing a news conference here on Wednesday.
Siddiqul Farooq claimed that according to pre-planned rigging, the electoral lists were prepared within 15 days, which were to be completed in four months under Acting Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan Qamaruz Zaman Kaira. The work of electoral lists was completed within fifteen days according to the interests of PPP candidate, he said.
The PML-N leader alleged that Gilgit-Baltistan Acting Governor Qamaruz Zaman Kaira had used state machinery and appointed new election commissioner for protecting the interests of PPP candidates. He also claimed that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani violated the election rules during the last day of election campaign by announcing development projects of billion of rupees and creating three new tehsils in Gilgit-Baltistan in his address to the public gathering in Skurdu.
He also accused the PPP government misused Benazir Income Support Programme and money of Pakistan Baitul Maal in election campaign. The government officials were transferred and promotions of the officers were linked with the support of PPP candidates, he claimed.
He also claimed that Nadra and postal ballot was used in the favour of PPP candidates. Siddiqul Farooq said that PML-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif was trying to create better political atmosphere and wants Pakistan as strong democracy. He said that the PML-N wants to convert the weak democratic system into a strong democratic system. The PPP is damaging the democratic system instead of strengthening it.