Gilgit-Baltistan elections: PML-N accuses PPP of preparing mega pre-poll rigging plan

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has accused Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of preparing a "mega pre-poll rigging plan" to win the elections of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and entire official machinery is being used for the purpose.
Addressing a press conference, PML-N central leader and party spokesman Siddiqul Farooq claimed that PPP has also chalked out a rigging plan for the polling day. He warned that rigging would make the Gilgit-Baltistan elections controversial that might bear negative results in the sensitive region.
PML-N leader said that central government, federal ministers were all exploiting the government resources and administration of the area to get desired results. Giving details of what he observed as part of the pre-poll rigging campaign by the PPP, Farooq said the electoral rolls are still being updated without devising proper procedure for the same.
He alleged that the forms of Benazir Income Support Programme were distributed throughout the country through elected representatives but in Gilgit-Baltistan, he added, the fifty thousand forms were distributed through non-elected PPP men.
He further said that development projects are being announced in the area at the recommendations of the PPP candidates. He added that civil judges have been appointed as returning officers for holding the elections but they have been placed under the administrative control of deputy commissioners so as to practically put the civil administration at the helm of affairs.
He feared that any kind of rigging by the PPP in the election process would shatter the trust of the people on democracy. To a question, he said PML-N top leadership would soon visit the area.
He urged the government to constitute a team comprising independent observers in consultation with all the political parties of the area to monitor the elections. He also urged the government to allocate an additional seat to the Hunza people in the legislative assembly.