Islamabad: Recent administrative changes carried out by the military regime in Pakistan have been described as attempts to engineer "pre-election rigging" by the Musharraf government ahead of the October polls, media reports said on July 18.

"Administrations at senior levels in at least two of the four provinces, Punjab and Sindh, are alleged to have initiated their work to engineer the October elections in favour of their favourite candidates and political parties," the daily 'News' said on July 18 quoting sources in the provinces.

"Important administrative changes, particularly at district level, both of police and other civilian officers, are being made and will further be made in the next few months," the newspaper reported.

It, however, said that senior officials in the provincial authorities dubbed these changes as "routine".

Sources in Punjab administration said that the Home Secretary and Inspector General of Police, Punjab, have recently toured almost all important districts of the province for special meetings with district officials, local elected representatives on forthcoming elections.

According to the sources, it was clearly conveyed in the meetings that they (local officials) would have to support the political parties which were supporting the military government and its policies in the forthcoming elections.

The sources alleged that the concerned officers in the district were being asked to support those candidates and political parties who would be enjoying the support of the government, the newspaper report said.

PTI