KARACHI, June 13: The Pakistan People’s Party has alleged that the Sindh government is indulging in pre-poll tampering with the election process in the province, and reiterated its demand to stop attempts at harming the sanctity of vote.

The party demanded the setting up of an independent election commission to ensure fair elections in the country in October.

“Any effort to block the will of the people would be resisted by the people,” the PPP said and warned that the government functionaries working to pave the way for the election victory of the government’s favourites would be taken to task after the party came to power.

The demand for transparent election was made by PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro at a press conference on Wednesday in Bilawal House, where former MNA and PML leader from Naushero Feroze Syed Asghar Ali Shah announced his leaving the PML (Q) and joining the PPP.

Welcoming Mr Shah in the party, Mr Khuhro said elections from 1985 onwards had never been transparent and the recent referendum had also proved that holding fair and free election was an important issue in the country. It had assumed added importance as Gen Pervez Musharraf was on record having said that “supporters of his referendum will benefit in the general elections.”

“The fears of this promise being fulfilled have been strengthened with the coming into action of the principal secretary to the governor, home secretary, planning secretary and local government secretary in support of Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro who plans to contest elections from Jacobabad and Shikarpur,” he said.

He claimed that these government functionaries had visited the two districts to chalk out development schemes, which was not only misuse of the office of governor but was also tantamount to undermining the district government system introduced by this government, as selection and approval of area development schemes was the sole responsibility of the district council, not of provincial secretaries.

He further claimed that the referendum exercise, on which, reportedly, more than Rs17 billion were spent, had damaged the image of the country. The referendum could not help defuse tension on the eastern border.

“While the armed forces have been facing the Indian army on the border, the people in the country appeared dismayed and unconcerned with the situation,” he claimed.

He said putting off the new NFC Award for one more year would deprive Sindh of Rs10 billion.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah, a senior leader of the party, said the State Bank report showed that the government’s performance in the economic sector was poor. Only an elected government could improve the economy, he added.

Prof N. D. Khan, another central leader of the party, urged Gen Musharraf to take the people into confidence on the Kashmir issue that, what “assurances and concessions have resulted in India scaling down from its extreme posture.”

He said only transparent election could give the country a credible government capable of defusing the situation.

Aftab Shaban Mirani said in Shikarpur and Jacobabad government functionaries were in contact with political leaders opposed to the PPP, and they asked them to contest the coming election from a joint platform against the PPP.

He alleged that Governor Mohammedmian Soomro was misusing his office by creating an election atmosphere for his election.

Munawwar Suhrawardi said the government should refrain from using development and poverty-alleviation funds for the sake of getting elected its favourites. If the governor wanted to contest in the election, he should first resign from his office.

Syed Khurshid Shah warned that the PPP had been keeping an eye on all government functionaries and those found meddling in the election process would be taken to task by the party after coming to power.

Others party leaders present at the press conference were Taj Haider, Rashid Rabbani, Nabil Gabol, Manzoor Wassan, etc.