PESHAWAR: PML-Q provincial president Intikhab Khan Chamkani on Monday alleged that the PTI-led provincial government was rigging the upcoming local body elections by announcing new development projects.

He threatened to move the court on the matter.

The PML-Q leader was addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club here.

On the occasion, PTI leader Engineer Farazullah Khan along with his relatives and friends announced the joining of PML-Q.

Chamkani said the PTI government didn`t initiate any development scheme in the province during the last two years but launched many such schemes after the schedule of local government elections was announced.

`This has been done to influence the opinion of voters. This is pre-poll rigging,` he said.

The PML-Q leader urged the Election Commission of Pakistan to step in and ensure that the ruling parties don`t violate election code of conduct.

He also said PTI chairman Imran Khan should stop the provincial government from using the taxpayers` money to infiuencevoters ahead of local body elections.

Chamkani demanded the announcement of the results the same day local body elections were held to stop the people from raising questions about the transparency of the electoral exercise.

He also demanded the holding of local body polls under the supervision of judiciary to ensure theirfairness and transparency.

The PML-Q leader criticised the federal government over the excessive power loadshedding in the province and issuance of inflated bills to the people.

He said the people of the province, especially those living in Peshawar, were subjected to power outages up to 18 hours daily to their misery.

Chamkani said the federal government lacked vision to overcome power crisis and therefore, it failed to provide relief to the people from the excessive loadshedding.

He criticised State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali for declaring Pakhtuns power thieves and said the minister should not use foul language.

The PML-Q leader said his party`s government served the people by carrying out massive development work but the PML-N government abandoned many of uplift schemes.