KHAR: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Wednesday accused NA-40 candidate Shaukatullah Khan and NA-41 candidate Shahabuddin Khan of violating election code of conduct during campaigning in Bajaur region and asked the Election Commission of Pakistan to check it for free and fair polls.

JI candidates Sardar Khan and Qari Abdul Majeed told a news conference here that Shaukatullah Khan and Shahabuddin Khan had begun pre-poll rigging in their respective constituencies by distributing money, solar panels, electrical transformers, poles and other equipment among voters.

They also claimed that Shaukatullah Khan was using the development schemes of his father and former MNA Haji Bismillah Khan and brother and Senator Hidayatullah Khan to benefit his election campaign though the ECP had banned such acts.

The JI candidates alleged that many officials of the government departments, including Tribal Electric Supply Company SDO, senior public health engineeringofficial and local government assistant director helped Shaukatullah Khan and Shahabuddin Khan with the illegal activities to serve own interests.

They criticised the deputy commissioner, who is also the district returning officer, for ignoring the violation of the election code of conduct and said the DC supported their election opponents.

The JI candidates said the DC had promised free and fair elections in the region but had failed to keep his promise. They asked the chief election commissioner of Pakistan, provincial governor and caretaker chief minister to order the local administration, district returning officer and local election commission officials to check ‘illegal activities’ of Shaukatullah and Shahabuddin to ensure the fairness of elections. The JI candidates said they would speak to other contenders in the two constituencies on the matter for joint action.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2018