ISLAMABAD: PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani on Friday voiced concern over what he described as unchecked violation of code of conduct in Gilgit-Baltistan ahead of the general elections.

“The flagrant violation of the election code in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) by the federal government as the Election Commission looks the other way has cast serious doubt on the impartiality of the entire electoral process,” Mr Rabbani told a group of reporters.

He said the GB Election Commission had failed to issue notice or take steps under the code and the law when the federal government after the announcement of the schedule promoted or transferred civil servants related to or connected with the administration or affairs of GB.

Mr Rabbani said Prime Minister Imran Khan visited GB and announced making it a province in clear violation of the code.

He said a federal minister continued to address corner meetings related to the election and another federal minister openly enticed voters by saying the number of votes would determine the development budget.

He said women voters were being intimidated and they were not being allowed to file papers from areas of their choice. He also said there was a lack of access to polling stations for the voters.

The PPP leader said that not only women were being disallowed to submit their papers in their respective areas, but they had also not been given proper security despite several threats.

He said the GB administration had told PPP’s Sadia Danish that she faced a threat.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2020