LAHORE: The Punjab government has made a `rigging plan` for local body elections through deputy commissioners, district returning officers and presiding officers, says Punjab PPP President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo.

`The officials of the Punjab government have been appointed as district returning ofHcers and presiding officers and the government will manipulate the elections through them,` Wattoo said, demanding that the sessions judges be appointed as DROs and senior civil judges and civil judges as presiding officers to ensure the impartiality and authenticity of the local body pollsin the province.

In a statement issued here on Monday Wattoo further said the Punjab government officers were the `personal servants` of the top functionaries who were known for giving preference to loyalty over merit. `These officials cannot go against the wishes of their masters come what may,` he said.

He pointed out that the officials of the Punjab government had already been favouring ruling party candidatesbyestablishingpollingstations near their residential premises or in the close proximity of the property they were holding the proprietary rights.

`If the rigging plan for the local polls is implemented the people will forget the rigging of 2013 elections,` he said and urged the election commission to take immediate action to stop the Punjab government from implementing its plan.