Govt accused of pre-poll rigging

Published March 14, 2002

ISLAMABAD, March 13: Leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Wednesday met 13 envoys from the member states of the European Union and expressed their reservations about the electoral and constitutional reforms being introduced by the government.

The ARD leaders held a two-hour-long meeting with the ambassadors at the residence of the Spanish envoy and apprised them of ARD’s stand on different issues, including the process of accountability being carried out by the government. A source said the politicians had also expressed their reservations about the government’s claim to hold free, fair and impartial elections.

They alleged that the government had already resorted to “pre-poll rigging” by projecting some favourite politicians and vilifying those, who were against it.

The ARD leaders also met the US political counsellor, Chat Blakeman, and apprised him of their reservations about the constitutional reforms.

The ARD delegation included veteran politician Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Pakistan People’s Party Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Pakistan Muslim League’s (PML-N) Senior Vice President Zafar Ali Shah.