MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 12: Candidates belonging to all the parties as well as independent ones are making frantic efforts to woo a maximum number of voters by offering them incentives -– in the form of both cash and kind.

“If you have no electricity connection, immediately apply for it. Oh, don’t you worry about fee for demand notice. What am I meant for?” Such an offer comes from Khalid Gurmani, a PML-Q candidate from NA-177.

Many other PML-Q candidates are offering Rs10,000 to those who would open their (candidates’) offices at their homes or shops. Malik Nasser of Gulwala union council said he had been offered money to allow the office of PML-Q’s Khalid Gurmani at his home, but he refused. He, however, promised Gurmani a vote.

In a bid to have their offices multiplied, the PML-Q candidates are also offering lunch at every office and house, in addition to money.

In the corner meetings of Malik Rabbani Khar, the father of Hina Khar who is in the race for the PPP from NA-177, Rabbani gave money to several people who produced their telephone and electricity bills to claim money offered to them.

Ghulam Rasool, one of the beneficiaries, confirmed receiving money for payment of his electricity dues. Ghulam Rasool said he would definitely vote for the PPP.

The hopefuls are also offering money “if any one asks for it”. A week ago, PML-N candidate for PP-255 Malik Abdul Khaliq Khar came to Station Budh for his corner meeting. He gave Rs500 each to a number of mendicants.

Abdul Hayee Dasti, an independent candidate for PP-254, is contesting election against his cousin Tehmina Dasti, the daughter of Amjad Dasti. Abdul Hayee gave four costly shops to Jamia Islamia Masjid. Sources said the cost of these shops was in millions and he gave the registry of these shops to the mosque and the students and other people concerned took oath that they would vote for him.

Malik Saadat Karloo, another independent candidate for the same seat, has offered the poor land in his own hometown near Rangpur and other facilities like houses and electricity free of cost.

Many are the people who are cashing in on the opportunity and enjoying free meals at the outhouses and corner meetings.

Noor Rabbani Khar is the one who has been offering free meals at his outhouse for the last 20 years. Keeping the tradition alive, Malik Rafique Khar, Kot Addu tehsil nazim, has set up a ‘tandoor’

to provide ‘roti’ to the poor at his dera.

—Correspondent