Khattak rejects allegations of using state machinery

NOWSHERA: Confident of his victory, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTIP) Chairman Pervez Khattak on Wednesday said his opponents were creating hue and cry about the alleged pre-poll rigging in a bid to escape from the general election slated for February 8, 2024.

Addressing a gathering at Kheshgi Bala village, he said Nowshera was his hometown and stronghold, where he would defeat his opponents hands down.“My opponents have become unnerved by PTIP’s rising popularity as droves of people are daily joining the newly formed political party,” he added.

Pervez Khattak said his opponents were now using lame excuses to avoid facing him in the electoral battle. He claimed he would beat his opponents even if they made an alliance against him. He added he believed in serving the people and did not pay lip service to their problems.

The people were joining his party as they were impressed with his vision and foresightedness, he said and dispelled the allegations that he was using state machinery for his political gains.

Khattak added that the deputy commissioner Nowshera and other officials of the district administration were not his relatives. He said being head of the district the deputy commissioner was making decisions on his own. Pervez Khattak said his opponents knew they were going to lose, therefore, they had started making baseless allegations for face-saving.

It may be recalled that Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday told a press conference in his native Nowshera district that pre-poll rigging was being committed as certain political parties were being provided space in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He had alleged that all the postings and transfers were being done as per the wishes of Pervez Khattak and he was using the government machinery for political purposes. He had demanded a level-playing field for all stakeholders.