KARACHI, Aug 3: A former deputy-speaker of the National Assembly and Pakistan People’s Party leader from Naushehro Feroz on Saturday accused the government of indulging in pre-election rigging to marginalize the PPP.

Speaking at a news conference, Syed Zafar Ali Shah said he did not expect the forthcoming elections to be fair and transparent because the government was indulging in pre-election rigging by setting up polling stations in the far-flung areas and away from the voters.

“It reflects the mala fide intentions of the regime and amounts to doctoring election results, even before they are held,” he maintained.

He alleged that despite ban on transfers and postings of government officials by the chief election commissioner, the practice was continuing.

He said the government’s package and other actions were focused on keeping two persons — Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif — out of political dispensation.

He said attempt to prevent Benazir Bhutto from taking part in the elections because of her conviction for being absent from court proceedings was unfair and a mockery when Sherpao and Liaquat Jatoi have been allowed to take part in elections. Same is the case with SDA and NDA, he alleged.

He said the intention of the regime was evident from the fact that a person who had been disqualified for seven years has now been made a minister in the Sindh cabinet.

Asked if he had lost hope to win the upcoming elections, he said the PPP, which has the backing of the people, will not be deterred by such tactics and it will not leave the field open for the regime to subvert the will of the masses.

Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah of Merhabpur said the regime has shifted polling stations in remote and the far-flung areas. In some cases, he added, polling station for one Deh has been set up for another.

Polling stations for women and men for the same deh have been located in different places, which would result in keeping the voters away on the polling day.

He said polling stations have been set up outside the populous areas with the same intentions.

He also alleged that delimitation of constituencies was also being used to facilitate the government proxies and to keep the PPP out. But he said the regime’s efforts would not be successful.