LAHORE, July 18: The Pakistan People’s Party has said the acting chief election commissioner and the Punjab government are trying to influence NA-151 by-poll in different ways.

“In spite of the appointment of Fakharuddin G Ebrahim as chief election commissioner, acting CEC Justice Shakirullah Jan has come to Multan to monitor the by-election which is illegal.

On the other hand, Punjab Inspector General Police Haji Habibur Rehman spent a busy day on Wednesday in Multan in connection with the election,” PPP South Punjab Vice-President Haider Zaman Qureshi said.

A close contest is expected between Abdul Qadir Gilani (PPP) and Shaukat Bosan. The seat had fallen vacant after the Supreme Court disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the contempt case.

Talking to Dawn Mr Qureshi said some circles did not want the PPP candidate (Gilani junior) to win as it would be considered a verdict against the apex court’s decision. He said the Punjab government was openly backing Shaukat Bosan, an independent candidate, and the state machinery was taking directions from him. He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present in Khanewal and monitored the election.

“Deliberate application of new election rules on the by-election which is the continuation of 2008 polls has been made. Fixation of tents outside the polling stations, bar on transportation of voters, ban on issuance of voter slips are the measures only geared to minimise the voter turnout as the acting CEC and the PPP opponent forces know well that high turnout will only benefit Abdul Qadir as it was in the case of Ali Musa Gilani,” he said.

Mr Qureshi said the judiciary continued politicising itself as the chief justice should have spared some time from his busy schedule and administer oath to Fakharuddin. He said despite all odds Abdul Qadir Gilani would win Thursday’s (today) election.