PPP demands free and fair elections in Gilgit-Baltistan
Party tells poll panel to ensure federal government officials don’t interfere in polls
Karachi: The Pakistan Peoples Party has formally lodged a complaint with the Gilgit-Baltistan’s (GB) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) requesting him that key office-holders of the federal government, including federal ministers, should not be allowed to enter GB till elections are held there on November 15 to ensure free and fair polls.
The PPP has particularly mentioned the name of Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Ali Amin Gandapur, while stating that his activities in the region grossly violated the code of conduct for the upcoming polls.
The in-charge of the PPP’s election cell, Senator Taj Haider, has written a letter to the CEC of Gilgit-Baltistan. In it he stated: “In blatant violation of the code of conduct, the caretaker government of Gilgit-Baltistan issued an office order on October 29, 2020 nominating government officials in 10 districts to assist the visiting federal Minister during his visit from October 28 to November 16, 2020. The order also directs deputy commissioners of the districts concerned to personally supervise all matters relating to the visit of the minister”.
Haider wrote that the concerned deputy commissioners should be the returning officers of their districts in the forthcoming elections and it was their duty to ensure that the elections are perceived to be free and fair.