Islamabad, 28 January 2008: President Provincial Election Monitoring Cell Pakistan People Party NWFP, Barrister Masood Kausar has apprised the Chief Election Commissioner of pre-poll rigging by the Pakistan Muslim League(Q) and the impartiality of caretaker set up in NWFP.

Barrister Masood Kausar in a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, wrote, "Contrary to the established democratic practices, the caretaker chief executive of the province is a controversial person and all the major political parties serious reservations about his credentials. He is the only supporter of the contentious Kalabagh dam. The purpose of his appointment seems to be to help those candidates who in future can be used to support the construction of this divisive dam much against the wishes of the people of NWFP. Most of the members of the caretaker government of the NWFP can not be described, by any stretch of imagination, as impartial. To quote only a few examples, three provincial ministers namely Messrs. Kamal Shah, Bakht Baidar and Ejaz Durrani are not only active members of Sherpao group, but are also its important office bearers. Not only that, two brothers of Bakhat Baidar are contesting candidates and another minster, Mr. Imtiaz Gailani's brother Iftekhar Gaylani is a candidate for the national assembly. It is also interesting to note that two of the caretaker ministers, namely, Pir Khalid Zakori and Shahzada Gustasip, after having served for considerable time in the caretaker set up only recently
resigned. Similarly the federal minister for railways Mr. Manzoor Tariq is a close relative of a contesting candidate and is actively supporting election campaign of the said candidate. Besides, Nisar Mohammad Khan who is a caretaker federal minister is actively running election campaigns of his two sons."

He further wrote, "From the demeanor of the caretaker Chief Minister and his cabinet, an impression is conveyed to the public that those who contest on the PML (Q) and its allies' tickets will have the support of the provincial and the federal government. This fact is also borne out from frequent meetings of the leaders of the PML(Q) and its allied party leaders with the caretaker Chief Minister and his cabinet members. We have also received complaints that the government machinery is being used for giving undue help to the candidates of their choice to the extent that funds are being made available by the provincial and the federal governments for projects announced by their 'favorite
candidates' on the spot, in the presence of the officials of the concerned departments. Work on these projects is taken up virtually the next day, in utter violation of the election laws and departmental rules. This obviously tantamount to bribing the voters."

Barrister Masood Kausar wrote, "PPP, NWFP to ensure free and fair elections, demands from your office the following actions on a priority basis:

1. The caretaker Chief Minister should be immediately removed and a neutral and impartial caretaker acceptable to all the political parties be set up.

2. All appointments/transfers made by the caretaker government be immediately cancelled. The transfer of session judges/judicial officers and public servants in violation of the orders of the CEC be cancelled forthwith.

3. All developmental schemes announced by the provincial caretaker government at the requests of PMLQ be cancelled and the caretaker government also shall not announce any other new schemes till the formation of the new government.

4. All the government officials should be directed to perform their duties strictly accordance to the law, impartially.
 
5. The transfer of judicial officials most of whom are acting as returning officers be banned till holding of the upcoming elections.

6. All criminal cases registered against PPP workers, leaders and candidates should be withdrawn forthwith.

7. Army personnel should be deployed preferably through out the province to guard against any law and order situation before and on the day of polling."