KOHAT, Aug 29: Candidates belonging to various political parties have accused the NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah and provincial Education Minister Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani of campaigning for Pakistan Muslim League (QA) candidates and asked the Election Commission to take notice of the anomaly.

Addressing a joint press conference at a local hotel here on Thursday Saifullah Khan Khattak of PPP, Mufti Mohammad Ibrar of MMA, Javed Ibraheem Paracha PML-N and Sherhyar Afridi (independent) demanded the resignation of the NWFP governor and the provincial education minister who is also the brother of Syed Iftikhar Hussain Gilani, a PML-Q candidate for national assembly seat from Kohat.

They alleged that a few days ago both the governor and the minister held a meeting with Iftikhar Gilani at his residence and discussed matters pertaining to the forthcoming general elections. They said that the government had decided to rig the polls and use official machinery for the purpose.

They said the governor, in an attempt to mould the public opinion in favour of the governor sanctioned a number of schemes for Kohat during the last many months and was now asking the people of certain areas to vote for PML-Q candidate.

They warned of boycotting the polls if the government interference in the electioneering was not stopped immediately.