LAHORE, Aug 12: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi denied on Friday the allegations levelled by the APC regarding the local elections, saying all steps were being taken to hold them in an impartial and transparent manner.

In a statement issued here he said the opposition candidates had assessed their lack of popularity among the people and that was why they were levelling baseless allegations.

He said everyone was equal before the law. Had the administration been partial in the local government elections, nomination papers of the candidates having sympathy with the ruling PML could not have been rejected on technical grounds, or the PML-N and the PPP candidates declared unopposed in many constituencies.

The chief minister said no allegation regarding the involvement of the provincial government in the local elections could be substantiated with a proof in the meeting which was presided over by the chief election commissioner in Lahore on Thursday and attended by 35 returning officers and witnessed by reporters.

He termed the opposition parties’ threat of boycotting the election as absurd. None of the ARD component party would follow this decision, he said.

Dharmpura underpass: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will inaugurate the Dharampura underpass on Saturday, communications and works minister said on Friday.

Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said all arrangements for the ceremony had been completed.

He indicated that an other underpass would be constructed at Mughalpura.

GO-AHEAD: Mian Shahbaz Ahmed claimed on Friday that PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain had given him a go-ahead to contest the election of the Data Gunj Bux Town nazim.