MUZAFFARABAD: As the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and majority of his cabinet members have camped themselves in Mirpur to woo voters in favour of the ruling People’s Party (PPAJK) candidate in the upcoming by-election, opposition parties are crying foul over the alleged use of official resources by them for electioneering.

On Saturday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reiterated his demand to Chief Election Commissioner Justice Munir Ahmed Chaudhry to stop Mr Majeed and the ministers from using official transport and other resources in the election campaign of their candidate, Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf.

“The prime minister has camped himself in Mirpur for the last 35 days, and most of his cabinet members are also here, leaving their offices in the state capital deserted. They are offering schemes and donations to chase the voters in a blatant disregard to the code of conduct,” he told Dawn on telephone.

It may be mentioned that the Mirpur by-election, which was earlier scheduled for March 15, is now being held on March 29. The date was extended on February 28 due to some technical reasons.

Last month, the PML-N also lodged a written complaint with the CEC regarding the “brazen violation of code of conduct by the government functionaries.”

Separately, a representative of Barrister Sultan Mahmood, the president of Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf AJK chapter and its candidate in the by-election, also provided “pictorial and documentary evidence” to the CEC about official attempts to influence the voters.

Following the complaints, the CEC called a meeting of all candidates during which he strictly directed the administration in Mirpur to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct for the by-poll or else he would take punitive action against them. At the same meeting, Mr Ashraf assured the CEC on behalf of Mr Majeed that the PPAJK would respect the code of conduct.

However, Mr Haider said the commitment had turned out to be a hoax, as Prime Minister Majeed or his cabinet members had not shown an iota of respect to the code of conduct.

The PML-N chief said he was at a loss to understand why the CEC was “showing weakness” in Mirpur even though he (CEC) possessed a good track record.

“We had lodged a written complaint but as yet we have not seen the implementation of the code of conduct,” he regretted.

“If the implementation of the code of conduct is not ensured, the PML-N will announce its next course of action on Monday afternoon,” he added.

In response to a question, Mr Haider said though he was entitled to (use of) official vehicles, in his capacity as former prime minister and leader of the opposition, he was running the campaign of his candidate in private vehicles.

“Contrarily, the prime minister proceeds to each election related rally in a cavalcade of dozens of officials vehicles,” he said.

However, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, another former AJK premier and president of opposition Muslim Conference, was angry not only at the AJK government but also at the central and provincial governments for “using their resources in favour of their respective candidates in the Mirpur by-poll.”

Published in Dawn March 16th , 2015

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