SWABI: The opposition parties’ candidates have accused the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmakers of flagrantly violating the election code while canvassing for their party’s candidates for the local body polls, and urged the election commission to take notice of it.

Qaumi Watan Party’s Swabi district chairman Masood Jabar told Dawn that they had submitted applications to the deputy commissioner’s election monitoring cell and the district election commission against the PTI lawmakers for running the campaign of their party’s candidates, but no action was taken.

He alleged that PTI leaders were using government machinery to influence voters.

Rab Nawaz Khan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s contestant for the Swabi tehsil chairman’s slot, said the PTI legislators were taking part in the polls campaign, which was a blatant violation of the election rules. “The PTI lawmakers are using the government resources to buy votes,” he added.

Akmal Khan, the Awami National Party candidate for Swabi chairman’s seat, asked the election commission to restrain the PTI lawmakers from running the election campaign.

Meanwhile, in a video message, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has asked the PTI candidates to run an aggressive campaign to ensure their victory in the local government polls. “This is a test case for you,” he said.

Mr Qaiser said the government had issued tenders of different projects worth Rs2.5 billion for Swabi district.

He also announced his plans to give a special package for each union council of Swabi.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2021