LAHORE, Jan 16: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday rebutted the allegations that by-elections were rigged, saying that “every losing candidate says so”.

He was talking to reporters after a book-launching ceremony at Alhamra. The book was about Board of Revenue member Syed Shaukat Ali Shah’s haj experience.

The chief minister said nobody had been stopped from taking part in the elections and termed the allegations of rigging baseless.

When asked about the postponement of election on a Lahore Punjab Assembly seat because of the alleged theft of ballot papers, the chief minister said the election commission was taking stock of the issue. Action should be taken against the culprit, he added.

The chief minister said that in order to improve the law and order situation, the government was establishing 200 police posts in the province. Adequate manpower and equipment were being provided at the posts, which would ultimately number 400. These police posts would be held responsible for every crime — specially robberies — within 20km of their jurisdiction.

He said postings and transfers of government officials were a routine matter after the induction of every new government. These administrative adjustments were necessary for facilitating and improving government’s working, he said.

Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, the chief minister announced the establishment of a Seerat Study Centre in Lahore for the promotion of Islamic teachings. He said services of national and international teachers of Islamic studies, Ulema and scholars would be acquired for the centre.

He announced a scheme for enhanced pecuniary awards for writers of best books on the Punjab. He asked the information secretary to submit a report within a week on the existing funds and bodies for welfare of writers and promotion of literature.

He said the Muslim Ummat was facing hardships because of lack of unity. He thanked God for the lowering of the graph of sectarian violence in Pakistan in recent past.

“We would accept all criticism regarding weaknesses in our working,” the chief minister said, asking people to help the government stick to the right path of serving the people.

He said he would invite newspaper editors and journalists for guidance.

He praised Mr Shaukat’s book and said writers among the government officers always proved better administrators.

Earlier, Majid Nizami, Ahmad Nadim Qasmi, Lahore Nazim Mian Amer Mehmood, Dr Khwaja Zikriya, Bushra Rehman, Dr Shafiq Chaudhry and Altaf Hassan Qureshi paid tributes to the writer.

Former Punjab information secretary Shaukat Ali Shah explained how he had been inspired to write the book after performing haj.