UPPER DIR, May 4: Jamaat-i-Islami district chief and candidate for PK-91 Inayatullah on Saturday alleged that Pakistan People’s Party candidates had been distributing water pipes and power transformers among people to influence the upcoming elections.

He criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan for not checking the candidates offering bribes to people for getting their votes.

Addressing a gathering of traders at Saleem Market here, Mr Inayatullah alleged that local police was providing protection to the PPP activists distributing goods among people.

“This situation does not provide a level playing field in election,” he lamented. He said that the code of conduct was being violated, but the ECP was sitting as silent spectator. He asked the JI activists to keep an eye on trucks carrying goods meant for bribing voters and seize them.

The JI candidate said that the administration would be responsible for any untoward incident or deterioration in law and order in the district. Mr Inayatullah, who served as the provincial health minister during MMA government from 2002 to 2007, said that the JI had brought the issue into the notice of district returning officer, police and district administration, but no action was taken so far. —Correspondent