PESHAWAR: Suicide attacks may affect voter turnout, says PML-N
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Dec 23: Secretary-general of the PML-N Iqbal Zafar Jhagra has said that prevailing lawlessness and uncertainty in some parts of the country may affect voters’ turnout in the general election.
Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Sunday, he said PML-N chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would launch his party’s election campaign in the NWFP on Dec 28 by addressing a rally in Peshawar.
He said the rally would be organised at the city’s Jinnah Park, but the venue could be shifted to any other suitable place. He said Mr Sharif would also visit Charsadda and Mardan districts on Dec 29 and address party workers.
Expressing concern over the law and order situation in the country, particularly in the NWFP, Mr Jhagra said the people were in a state of fear because of suicide attacks and explosions that might affect the overall turnout in the elections.
He accused the caretaker government of not providing a level playing field to mainstream political parties. He said the caretaker government had focused on ‘pre-poll rigging’ to ensure the success of the ‘king’s party candidates’ in the election.
He demanded the formation of a national government and an independent election commission to conduct free and fair elections in the country.
He also demanded suspension of district governments before the elections to ensure transparency and fairness in elections.
Mr Jhagra, a party candidate for NA-3 (Peshawar) and PF-12 (Nowshera), said that despite the ‘pre-poll rigging’ the PML-N had received an overwhelming response from the people during its election campaign.
He claimed that the PML-Q was in trouble and even some of its candidates had returned their tickets to the party, because they were sure of their defeat in the elections.
Asked about the fund allocation for the PML-N election campaign, Mr Jhagra asserted that all candidates were running their own campaigns on ‘self-help’ basis.
He said the PML-N had one point agenda: the reinstatement of all those judges who had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).
He said his party would continue its fight for the elimination of the role the army from politics.
He said PML-N candidates would take oath after elections and pledge their allegiance to work for the restoration of independence of judiciary and the 1973 Constitution. He proposed the formation of Alliance for the Stability of Democracy to work for the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic institutions.
