August 29, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani 19,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPP) President Makhdoom Amin Fahim has alleged that pre-poll rigging has been going on a massive scale.

“Government functionaries are blatantly interfering in district-level politics and supporting pro-government candidates,” Mr Fahim told Dawn by phone on Wednesday.

President Musharraf, he said, at a recent meeting had assured him that the October general election would be held in a free, fair and impartial manner.

“I do not see that these assurances would be upheld,” he said, adding that he had been receiving complaints every day from all over the country about the open interference of government officials in the local politics.

The government officials were also exerting influence on the candidates to switch over their loyalties, Mr Fahim said, adding that they had already informed the election commission about those complaints.