PESHAWAR: Accepting mismanagement and rigging in the recently held local government election, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday said his government was ready to form a judicial commission or an investigating team to probe rigging allegations.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar along with leaders of coalition parties — Jamaat-i-Islami and Awami Jamhuri Ittehad— the KP chief minister categorically rejected allegations of massive rigging by ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the recently concluded local government polls in KP.

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“If anyone or any party has solid evidence of rigging they should present it before the election commission. We were helpless on polling day,” he said, adding that police was unable to control the situation.

Khattak said conduction and management of the election was primarily the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan according to Article 218, 219 and 200 of the Constitution.

He said the provincial government had provided adequate police for the security of election staff.

The chief minister said the election commission was not prepared to conduct polls in a smooth and transparent manner.

Khattak claimed the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) was ready to conduct biometric polling but added that the ECP rejected the suggestion, which was put forward by the KP government.

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“Before the election, we requested the election commission via a letter to deploy army during polling but the commission did not pay any heed to the requests.”

The provincial government is collecting reports from districts to unmask corrupt elements involved in rigging and mismanagement during the election, he assured.

Responding to a query regarding Awami National Party’s demand of his government’s resignation and announcement of fresh polls, Khattak said neither he nor his government was elected through local government elections.

“Our government is ready to investigate the matter in a transparent manner," he said.

Know more: ANP leader demands KP government's resignation.