LANDI KOTAL, April 25: Candidates of political parties on Thursday complained about excessive expenditure by some independent contestants during their election campaigns in NA-45, Khyber Agency.

The complaint was made during a meeting organised by the local administration here to discuss the law and order situation, security arrangements for the May 11 elections and observance of the Election Commission of Pakistan code of conduct by candidates in the area.

Landi Kotal returning officer Jehangir Azam Wazir, assistant political agent Dr Azmatullah Wazir and commandant of Khyber Rifles Colonel Fayyaz were also in attendance.

The assistant political agent said candidates would be provided with full security if they asked for it for their election campaigns in Landi Kotal and Jamrud.

The candidates assured the officials that they would abide by the code of conduct during their campaign.

Some candidates fielded by political parties expressed reservations about excessive spending by some wealthy independent contestants.

“This is a clear violation of the code of conduct. The local administration is acting like a silent spectator,” a candidate told Dawn after the meeting.

He said the relevant officials failed to give satisfactory answer when the issue was raised during the meeting.

Another candidate complained that wealthy candidates had been arranging lavish feasts for voters without let or hindrance and that they had hired vehicles for taking voters to polling stations on May 11.

“It is an open violation of the election code of conduct. It should be checked at all costs by the local administration and the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he said.

The candidate alleged that some contestants were offering food to voters three times a day at their election offices and that was tantamount to pre-poll rigging.

When contacted, the Landi Kotal assistant olitical agent said it was hard to establish that a candidate was crossing the expenditure limit fixed by ECP.

He said in most cases, candidates argued that feasts and rallies were arranged by their supporters and well-wishers and that they were following the ECP code of conduct.

“It’s very difficult for us to investigate such violations,” he said.