SWABI, Sept 18: Leaders of the Watan Dost group backed by the Awami National Party and the Swabi Roshankhayal group have accused the federal and provincial governments of “meddling” in the third phase of local body elections and have called upon the chief election commissioner to put a stop to the practice.

In support of their contention, they cited a proposed meeting on Sept 20 of the Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam and provincial Education Minister Maulana Fazal Ali at the residence of Shahram Khan, a nominee for the post of district nazim.

The former district nazim, Jehan Zeb Khan, and ex-general secretary of the ANP, Salim Khan, said that the Swabi Jamhoori Ittehad leaders - Shahram Khan, Najeen Khan and Shamsher Khan - had already distributed invitation cards in which they claimed that problems of the people concerning electricity and education would be resolved on the spot by the ministers during the open katchery on Sept 20.

They claimed that both the federal and provincial governments were using all of the state’s resources to acquire support for SJI candidates.

They appealed to the chief election commissioner to block the minister’s entry into the district because it was an illegal and unconstitutional act. “If they are allowed to hold an open katchery, then the government would violate its own announcement that the local body elections are on non-party basis,” they said.

They warned that if the federal government and chief election commissioner failed to do their duty they would stage a protest in the front of the district returning officer and Election Commission’s office.

They also alleged that SJI leaders had opened centres for vote-buying and those who had bargained with them had handed over their ID cards to them in an act of assurance.

“The commission agents and brokers have got luxurious vehicles and a majority of them have been coming out for bargaining at night,” said Jehan Zeb Khan. “The whole district knows about the politics of money that Shahram Khan and his colleagues have introduced.”

A letter sent to the Election Commission by the ANP contestants for district nazim’s post Amanullah Khan, candidates for Swabi tehsil nazim Hanif Jadoon and the candidate

for Chota Lahor tehsil nazim post Shahroom Khan said: “It

is an absolute and clear violation of the election rules and it is tantamount to pre-poll rigging.

‘‘In this connection we request your honour to stop this unprecedented illegal practices initiated by the minister of state and provincial minister.

“We, being peaceful citizens, have brought the true facts before your good office. If this practice is not stopped, we will hold a protest meeting.’’