MUZAFFARGARH, June 20: Though allegations of using state machinery against opponents had been consistently raised by the rivals of the PML-Q during its stint from 2002 to 2007, now it’s the reversal and the PML-Q candidate for PP-258 has raised similar complaints against the PPP and the PML-N regime.

Syed Haroon Bukhari of the PML-Q is facing PPP’s Dr Zakaullah, who is brother of MNA Moazzam Jatoi and cousin of another MNA Qayyum Jatoi. With less than seven days left before the by-polls to the constituency vacated by Qayyum Jatoi scheduled for June 26, electioneering has yet to gain momentum. Bukhari said he was unable to launch his electioneering because of massive use of government machinery by his rivals against him and his supporters.

Bukhari was, however, optimistic that he would win the elections despite thesetactics by his rivals like the opposition candidate had won the same seat in the 2002 by-elections.

Though Bukhari said that he had moved the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), he was not eying any improvement.

In the 2008 general elections, the PPP candidates had complained to the ECP regarding the use of government machinery against them by PML-Q candidates.