President Pakistan Awami Muslim League Shiekh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday blamed that the government of Punjab was using state machinery for rigging the upcoming by-polls in NA 55 Rawalpindi. Speaking at a press conference here at National Press Club, he said that the people of his constituency were struggling for getting the right to votes in the era of so-called democratic government.
Shiekh Rasheed added that one of the major political parties of the country was not interested in holding by-elections in NA 55 Rawalpindi and NA 123 Lahore, adding that the party, which was trying to delay the election process had singed Charter of Democracy with another major political party of the country.
Coming down hard on the statement of PML-N leader and leader of opposition in National Assembly Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, he said that he had never held any meeting with president Zardari for getting PPP's support in elections. He said that he was the son of the city and he firmly believes that he will win the up-coming by-elections in NA 55, adding a majority of PML-N voters will cast their votes in his favour because they are against the present policies of PML-N leadership.
Sheikh Rasheed said that Punjab government was trying to sabotage the election process and Punjab Police was chasing him continuously. He said that if Punjab government did not stop utilising state machinery in elections, he will request Election Commission of Pakistan to hold elections in NA 55 with the help of Pakistan Army. Sheikh Rasheed said that let people decide to whom they wanted to see representing them at national level.