PESHAWAR, Dec 21: The Pakistan People's Party has said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government rigged by-elections in NA-35, Malakand, by doling out Zakat money to the people in the area.

Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, the PPP candidate, Mohammad Humayun Khan, alleged that MMA ministers forced the voting process to end at 4pm, one hour before the schedule time, in various villages. The same ministers, however, allowed voters to cast their votes till 5pm at several other places, he claimed.

Mr Khan also showed photostat copies of Zakat forms distributed by the MMA's Zakat and ushr minister in Malakand on Dec 14, a day before the polling. Various federal ministers also visited Malakand and promised development plans, including provision of natural gas and construction of roads in the constituency.

He said the federal and NWFP governments had influenced the election process by doling out money and making fake development promises. Mr Khan said the Election Commission had failed to fulfil its responsibilities during by-election.