VEHARI, Sept 24: The political officer of US consulate, Elizabeth Horst, on Tuesday met some local candidates including Tehmina Daultana and Shahida Daultana as well as district Nazim Mumtaz Khan Khichi and Tehsil Nazim Mian Saqib Khurshid.

Later, the PML-N candidate for NA-168 and 169 (Vehari-II and III), Tehmina Daultana, told reporters that at her meeting with the US consul, she had raised issues like pre-poll rigging and district and Tehsil Nazim’s (alleged) support for PML-QA candidates. She also alleged that development works were being done by Tehsil and district governments in selected areas on the recommendation of PML-QA candidates.

The US consul also visited the offices of election commission, DCO and DPO to know various aspects of the electoral arrangements.

She told Dawn that it was very difficult to say anything about pre-poll rigging complaints. However, she added, the candidates who had met her were critical of the King’s party.

She said the West was interested in revival of democracy in Pakistan and was monitoring the situation with the consent of Pakistani government.