Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Senior Vice president Nawabzada Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti termed the massive usage of funds by a political party as pre-poll rigging in district Mardan, urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take immediate notice against the violators of its rules.
Speaking at a press conference at press club on Saturday, the PML-N leader alleged the public money being utilising for electioneering campaign through civil servants appointed by previous government for Awami National Party campaign in the district. Flanked by the PML-N Deputy General Secretary, Jehanzeb Khan, and Qadeem Khan, Hoti further said the ANP flags and banners were installed at different public sector institutes, while the high officials appointed by previous government towing line of the party to mobilise subordinate employees to cast only vote to ANP in the polls, he alleged.
"I had informed the Election Commission of Pakistan through several letters regarding the pre-poll-rigging and demanding for reshuffling of top bureaucracy in the district Mardan, Hoti said. He, however, said the ECP was yet to taken any action in this regard. He repeatedly demanded of the ECP to immediate issue orders for reshuffling of top officials of different public-sector institutes, meant to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the district Mardan.
He abstained from mentioning name of any official for supporting ANP to gain votes in the forthcoming polls. But, he told the ECP in a letter to issue order for transforming of Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Election Commissioner, DIG, EDO (Education), Xen (Irrigation), DPO, TMO, Xen (C&W), Circle Inspector Anti-corruption, Xen (Municipal Corporation), Director Anti-Corruption, Xen (Sui-gas), Patwaries, and Chief Executive Mardan Medical Complex, in district Mardan.
Hoti, who is running election from Constituency NA-9 on PML-N ticket, said that despite taking over interim government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the funds had not frozen in district Mardan, which was clearly violation of Election Commission of Pakistan rules. He alleged the funds had lavishly utilised in constituency of former chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, but the officials of ECP yet to take any action against it.
"The ECP should ensure implementation of its basic code of conduct regarding the elections by reporting activities at daily basis in district Mardan", he demanded. He asked the KP interim government to take steps for appointment of impartial people at different government institutes in district Mardan, to keep fairness and objectivity in the elections.
Hoti said the ECP should deploy neutral observers to monitor pre and post electioneering activities in the district. He said it was quit essential to bureaucracy reshuffling from top to bottom, meant to hold free, fair and transparent election in the province.