Lahore   -   Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has criticised the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for ‘resorting to rigging" in the local bodies elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), calling it a "desperately unpopular" government.

"The PTI has sunk to new depths in its attempts to rig local body elections. In DI Khan ANP candidate was assassinated a day before polling, members of his family accused PTI minister of first trying to bribe him then killing him," Bilawal said in a Twitter post on Sunday.

He further claimed, "In Peshawar, PTI ppl [people] were caught red handed stamping ballot papers the night before polling. All day there have been reports of PTI ransacking polling stations attacking polling staff including women." "We appeal to the people of Pakhtunkhwa to not be deterred by PTI tactics, come out in large numbers and defeat PTI with your votes," the PPP chief said, adding, "All PPP workers are requested to report violations to party election cell or directly to ECP."

The scion of the Bhutto family went on to say, "This is what a desperately unpopular government looks like. They are resorting to violence and rigging to try and undermine the people’s choice. We call on the ECP to take action against rigging and ensure free and fair elections."

Addressing an election rally last month, the PPP leader said those who came to power at the behest of the “selectors” were ravaging the country. He had claimed his party would triumph over the ruling PTI in its political stronghold of KP in the next general elections. In his fiery speech, Bilawal had said his party would send the incumbent government packing and restore the rule of genuine public representatives.