GUJRANWALA, Feb 13: Despite government claims of holding the Feb 18 elections free and fair, complaints by candidates of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Gujranwala are growing against government’s partiality towards opposition candidates.

Last month, Rana Nazir Ahmed, PML-N candidate for NA-99, approached the district returning officer (DRO) that Wandu Station House Officer Muazzam Ali was transferred for not supporting the PML-Q whereas Union Council 143 Nazim Rana Shehzad told a press conference on Jan 30 that Muazzam was transferred for his refusal to torture the voters opposing the PML-Q.

Abdullah Virk, PPP candidate for NA-99, also complained to the DRO against Wandu, Kamonke and Ferozwala station house officers (SHOs) for harassing his voters. Independent candidate for PP-98 Waqas Haider complained to the DRO against the SHO of Ladhaywala police station for working for the PML-Q candidate. The same complaints were raised against the SHOs of Ahmed Nagar and Wazirabad Saddar by Shaukat Hayat Chatha, PML-N candidate for PP-103, and Shaukat Manzoor Cheema, candidate for PP-104.

They alleged the SHOs had implicated their voters in cases to harass them.

According to police resources, SHOs of Ladhaywala Warraich, Kamonke Saddar and Wandu police stations were transferred due to their participation in training courses or illness.

Despite the consistent complaints by the candidates, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had yet to take any action.

The ECP is also unmoved regarding violation of the rule about graffiti on walls and big hoardings and according of governmental protocol to PML-Q Punjab President Pervaiz Elahi on Jan 28 during his visit to Gujranwala.

PPP and PML-N supporters say the PML-Q ignored the Gujranwala city in its tenure. They say Mr Elahi visited the city three times as the chief minister and announced

Rs2.5 billion, Rs4.5 billion and Rs7.5 billion but these announcements were never materialised.— Imran Saleem