QUETTA, Oct 3: Some candidates staged a protest rally in Nushki on Wednesday against alleged issuance of bogus national identity cards in Chaghai.

The rally turned into a big procession and public meeting at Mir Gul Khan Naseer Chowk.

Provincial assembly candidates Kifayat Karar of Balochistan National Party, Manzoor Mengal of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Nazir Ahmed of Balochistan National Movement and Mir Bahadur Khan Mengal, independent, led the procession.

They claimed that fake NICs were being prepared in collaboration with National Databases and Registration Authority and other agencies concerned in a bid to cast bogus votes in the elections.

They accused the government of interfering in the electoral process by summoning notables to Governor’s House and offering them incentives to back its favourite candidates.

They alleged that wheat, rigs, pipes, tubewells and bulldozer hours were being distributed by the government among the people commanding community or clan votes.

They said the government-backed candidates had manipulated the distribution of NICs while supporters of opposition were denied identity cards.

The candidates threatened to launch a campaign against the government and demanded a level ground for the election.

WITHDRAWAL: An independent candidate, Sardar Nadir Khan Badini, has announced his withdrawal in favour of Mir Shabbir Ahmed Badini, a nominee of Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam).