Islamabad, Dec 27: Senate opposition leader Raza Rabbani has said that restrictions on international observers have exposed the caretaker Pakistan’s Government’s tall claims of holding free and fair elections in Pakistan.

Rabbani said the restrictions on foreign observers, the re-hiring of police officers and the use of the postal ballot were three ingredients of the rigging plan for the January 8 polls.

“According to the Election Commission’s (EC) guidelines, the observers would be banned for asking any comment from the voters present at the polling station, ” he said.

He said the Punjab Government had reportedly signed contracts with 28 retired police officers in violation of federal government’s rules, adding that around 45,000 prisoners in 32 jails in Punjab had also applied for the postal ballot facility. (ANI)