QUETTA, Aug 21: The National Party (NP) has said that despite riggings, it has succeeded in winning local body seats in several districts of Balochistan whereas the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) has accused the government of ‘interfering’ in the poll process and the Election Commission (EC) of playing a ‘partial’ role.

In separate statements on Saturday night, the nationalist parties demanded steps to ensure transparency in the second phase of the local body elections to let the voters elect their representatives in a free environment.

The NP said that in the first phase, the federal and the provincial governments influenced the polls through different methods, yet the voters reposed confidence in the party.

A spokesman of the party said that the NP had shown remarkable success in Khuzdar, Awaran, Mastung, Gwadar, Jewani and Ormara.

The PMAP alleged that the polls were rigged in Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Pishin and Harnai and the EC turned a winning candidate into a defeated one by ignoring the demand for recounting the votes.

While blaming the government for influencing the polls, the PMAP said that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Pakistan Muslim League ministers were using the government resources and announcing development projects, bulldozer hours and provision of government jobs to ensure victory in the second phase of polls.

The EC was silent over the ‘interference of the government,’ it said, adding that it was the responsibility of the commission to take steps to make the second phase of polls transparent, the PMAP statement said.

SUSPECTS: Levies arrested on Sunday four people wanted for rocket attacks and bomb explosions in different areas of Kohlu district.