KP CM admits rigging, says ready to investigate LG polls

Khattak says ECP was not prepared to conduct election in a smooth and transparent manner

Accepting massive mismanagement and rigging in the recently held local government election, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Parvez Khattak said his government is ready to form judicial commission or join investigative team to probe the rigging.

Khattak was addressing a press conference along with leaders of coalition parties — Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami Jamhuri Ittehad.

The KP chief minister categorically rejected the allegations levelled by opposition parties of massive rigging by ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the KP local government election. “If anyone or any party has solid evidence of rigging they should present it before election commission. We were helpless on polling day,” he said, adding that police was unable to control the situation.

Khattak said that conduct and management of the election was prime responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) according to Article 218, 219 and 200. Moreover, the provincial government had provided police for the security of election staff. The chief minister said that the ECP was not prepared to conduct the election in a smooth and transparent manner. He claimed that NADRA was ready to conduct the election through biometric system but ECP rejected the suggestion of KP government.

“Before the election we requested and sent a letter to ECP to deploy army but the commission did not pay any heed to the requests.” The provincial government is collecting reports from the districts to unmask the corrupt elements involved in rigging and mismanagement during the election, he assured.

To a query regarding Awami National Party’s demand of his government’s resignation and announcement of fresh polls, Khattak said neither he nor his government was elected through local government election.

Our government is ready to investigate the matter in transparent manner, he reassured.