Monday, January 21, 2008

Pakistani claims of vote rigging pour in

As opposition files complaints, poll finds only 15 per cent believe Feb. 18 vote will be fair

TheStar.com, January 21, 2008


SPECIAL TO THE STAR

KARACHI, Pakistan–In the large, white-tiled interior of his office, Choudhury Qamar uz Zaman sits back in his swivel chair, and nods patiently as three political campaigners run through lists of pre-poll rigging accusations.

"Sir, the district leader is using government vehicles and police assistance to run PML-Q's (Pakistan Muslim League-Q) campaigns," said one, accusing the country's pro-government party of using state apparatus.

"We are not `Red Indians,' sir," said another. "What do you want to do? Put us in reservations and cast us aside?"

Zaman assured the three, all members of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the populist party whose chair Benazir Bhutto was assassinated last month, that he would look into the matter.

As voters prepare to go to polling stations on Feb. 18, a Gallup survey suggests only 15 per cent of Pakistanis believe the elections will be free and fair

Last week, the Citizens Group on Electoral Process said a 13-month review of the pre-electoral process revealed it was "highly unfair" and cited as examples the assault on the country's judiciary, curbs on private media, the deep ties of officials in the caretaker government to those in the former regime, and the lack of neutrality of the election commission.

In addition, both of the country's major political parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party and Nawaz Sharif `s Pakistan Muslim League-N, released reports citing the names and details of government officials assisting contestants, police brutality against political workers, and other forms of pre-poll rigging.

Continued . . .

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