LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi says the PML-N government has started pre-poll rigging on 20 seat by-elections in Punjab as it has seen its defeat in the wake of strong resistance from the people.

Mr Elahi questioned the performance of the `bogus, imported government`, saying it only increased the prices of electricity, gas and petrol.

Mr Elahi was speaking to former federal minister Sahibzada Mahboob Sultan and MPA Rana Shahbaz from Jhang, who called on him in his chamber on Thursday. MPAs Farooq Amanullah Dareshk and Hanif Pitafi were also present.

Even on the issue of blasphemy by the Indian ruling party, he said, the imported government did not give any strong response. Besides raising a strong voice against India on this issue at the international level, he stressed that Indian products should also be boycotted. They also discussed the political situation in the country and byelections during the meeting.

Mr Sultan and Rana Shahbaz apprised Mr Elahi of the Punjab government`s `fraudulent` measures in the by-elections.

Mr Sultan said the Punjab government had deployed police officers for the dissenters and the funds of PTl parliamentarians had also been transferred to by-election constituencies.

MPA Shahbaz said applications had been filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan against the fraudulent measures being taken by the Punjab government. He said four police personnel had also been deployed along with the dissenter candidates and were harassing the people. He said every fraudulent tactic was being used in the constituencies.

Wherever by-elections are taking place, he said, the bogus Punjab government and the deputy commissioner concerned had assigned tasks to the institutions at the level of streets and neighbourhoods to carry out development work on which the Election Commission should take action.-Staff Reporter