PESHAWAR, Oct 23: The Awami National Party has alleged that the appointment of a controversial chief minister and ministers from the ruling parties in the NWFP was aimed at rigging the election.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, ANP Information Secretary Zahid Khan expressed his dismay over the choice of people appointed as ministers.

He said the ANP workers and activists would foil attempts to rig the polls through democratic means.

The government, he said, had been following a well thought-out strategy aimed at creating a law and order situation in the province.

The appointment of an “unpopular and biased” person as chief minister and the PML-Q and PPP-Sherpao’s men as ministers was a clear indication that the government didn’t want to hold free, fair and transparent elections, he said.

People from across the province were facing considerable unrest in the presence of such controversial persons in the caretaker set-up.

Any attempt by the caretaker cabinet to rig the elections would be dealt with forcefully, he said, adding that the

responsibility for any hindrance in the smooth holding

of election would rest with

the government.