LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Lahore President Abdul Aleem Khan has demanded that the Election Commission should depute federal government employees to hold the upcoming Cantonment Board elections.

In a letter written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Friday, the PTI leader said the Election Commission had deputed polling staff from the education department and expressed apprehensions that the staff was under the influence of the Punjab government.

He said the education secretary and the Lahore Education EDO were holding briefing sessions for teachers and “influencing the staff for rigging”.

He has requested the CEC that instead of the Punjab Education Department staff, federal government employees should be posted for local body election duty on April 25.

Mr Khan has also submitted copies of his letter to the Punjab Election Commissioner, the Lahore corps commander and the Punjab chief secretary.

Talking to media persons, the PTI Lahore president said the education department secretary and EDOs were asking the polling staff to support PML-N candidates. Demanding that the polling staff be deputed from amongst the federal government employees, he said the PTI reserved the right to protest.

He alleged that the Punjab government had begun pre-poll rigging.

Meanwhile, PTI candidates from ward Nos 1, 2 and 5 -- Muhammad Ali Khan, Chaudhry Ikhlaq Husain and Raja Shahzad, respectively -- have filed an objection that women staff of the Government Islamia College for Women, Cantt, had been deputed at women polling stations in their respective constituencies.

In a written complaint to the Punjab Election Commissioner and the returning officer, the PTI candidates said the principal of the Islamia College, Cantt, was a friend of the wife of a federal minister and was appointed on minister’s recommendation. They stated the government had appointed most of the teachers of this college as presiding officers and assistant presiding officers to hold cantonment local elections.

“The Election Commission should depute women polling staff from other parts of the city instead of the Islamia College, Cantt, where PML-N candidate Shahid Ali Sheikh could use his influence,” they said.

COORDINATORS: The PTI Lahore president also chaired a meeting of party-appointed coordinators in PP-156’s 10 wards and discussed campaign issues as well as the irregularities being committed by the PML-N.

Aleem Khan said party chief Imran Khan had created political awareness among the masses and the PTI would prove on April 25 that it was the most favourite political party in the country.

He also opened party candidate Ikhlaq Husain’s election office in Cantt ward 2 and participated in a door-to-door election campaign.

PTI other candidates also stepped up their election campaign and met people in their respective constituencies.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2015

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