Modus operandi of election rigging in Pakistan

Elections are rigged in Pakistan in very sophisticated manner with the help of practices like blackmailing, kidnapping and stuffing of ballot boxes, according to a media report.

Lahore, Dec 24 : Elections are rigged in Pakistan in very sophisticated manner with the help of practices like blackmailing, kidnapping and stuffing of ballot boxes, according to a media report.

During last elections, international observers had found that opponents were "persuaded" to drop out of the contest or change parties, often by employees of intelligence agencies.

Experts believe that the pre-election phase is in favour of the former ruling party - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

"It (pre-election phase) is at least as bad as the last election," the Daily Times quoted Pakistan Legislative Development and Transparency Institute Executive Director Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, as saying.

"In these circumstances, people think it is futile to go out and vote," he added.

According to political analyst Ikram Seghal, the PML-Q does not have the support of the army in the rigging, "this time, there is a deliberate clear-cut signal from the army that it does not want to be involved in this.

Earlier this week, Musharraf in his speech tried to convince his audience, mostly government employees, to "vote for the party that has supported me".

ANI