PTI candidates not to get state machinery's help in by-polls: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain on Saturday said there would be no intervention by the government in the upcoming by-elections in the country, ARY News reported.

“The government does not believe in interventions in elections and that is why no administrative changes have been made in the constituencies where bye-elections are being held,” he said while addressing media at Bani Gala in Islamabad.

He said most of the administrative officers were the same as appointed by the caretaker government.

“In fact, our candidates complain that sometimes they feel as if they belong to some opposition party and other party candidates are from the ruling party,” he said while explaining the federal government’s policy of observing neutrality while holding elections.

Fawad said unlike the previous governments’ practice, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates will not get help from state machinery in the by-polls

The by-polls will be held for 11 national assembly and 26 provincial assembly seats on October 14.

Read More: ECP reviews preparations for by-elections on Oct 14

Expressing hope that the PTI candidates will win with overwhelming majority in the by-polls, he said these elections would increase the number of PTI seats in the parliament.

The minister said bye-elections conducted under the incumbent government would be transparent.

He said a number of PTI candidates called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today and discussed various issues of importance.  The PM also talked of reorganization of the party, he added.

Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said an earlier meeting chaired by the prime minister deliberated on promoting tourism in the country. He said an upcoming cleanliness campaign across the country was also discussed in today’s meetings.

On a question regarding the appointment of Chairman Public Accounts Committee, the Minister said he personally believes that opposition has no right on this position. However, final decision on this issue will be taken by the party with consensus, he said.

“How can you appoint Shehbaz Sharif for accountability of the projects constructed during the PML-N tenure,” he asked.

To a query, he said most of the bureaucracy currently on high posts were appointed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Zardari. Circumstances would be different when bureaucracy would be appointed by the PTI, he added.