ECP asked to stop Erra chief’s activities: Free, fair elections
By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to stop the activities of Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) Chairman Altaf Saleem till the polling day on February 18 to ensure free and fair elections.
PML-N Senator Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan, in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retired) Qazi Mohammad Farooq, alleged that the Erra chairman was running the election campaign of the PML-Q candidates in Hazara division by inaugurating development projects in the earthquake-affected areas.
The letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, says the Erra chairman had embarked upon the massive inauguration programmes of construction of roads, schools, hospitals, sui gas lines and electricity, etc. in the last few weeks in Mansehra and Abbottabad districts.
“It is pertinent to note that in these districts the coordination of such programmes is being made for the support of the PML-Q candidates of the National and provincial assemblies and only the PML-Q workers are invited in particular programmes,” it says.
The PML-N leader wrote that large parts of Mansehra and Abbottabad districts were badly affected by earthquake in 2005 and Erra had not taken any meaningful step in the last two years despite hue and cries of the affected people and resources available with the authority.
The PML-N senator, who himself is contesting the election for national and provincial assembly seats from Abbottabad, informed the CEC that the district officer in charge of Erra in Abbottabad in consultation with the PML-Q candidates had arranged another programme of Altaf Saleem on February 4 to inaugurate the Daolola-Dabban Road project in Daolola union council.
He further informed the CEC that another project of supplying gas to Muzaffarabad was being carried out in three places in Abbottabad district and pipes had already been placed there.
He opined that the natural route for the gas supply to Muzaffarabad was from Mansehra and not Abbottabad.
He said this clearly showed that the Erra chairman and local staff were working for the political support of the PML-Q candidates and that he being a PML-N candidate did not have such access to government resources to get benefit in the coming elections.
“This was tantamount to clear violation of the election rules, regulations and your commitment for free, fair and honest elections,” he wrote.
“It is necessary to direct Altaf Saleem, the Erra chairman, to cancel inauguration of all programmes and activities of such projects in Hazara division till February 18 for ensuring fair elections as per your commitment,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Election Monitoring Cell of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sardar Latif Khosa in a press conference on Thursday alleged that the Islamabad police was supporting the PML-Q candidates and harassing the PPP activists by registering false cases against them.
The PPP senator demanded of the ECP to acquire the services of all institutions, including the army, to ensure free and fair elections. He alleged that the inspector-general of police, Islamabad, was regularly holding meetings with the PML-Q candidates. He alleged that the police was confiscating each and every vehicle displaying the sticker or flag of the PPP.
