LAHORE: Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer on Tuesday warned against horse-trading and the use of provincial machinery or resources for the presidential election, saying such tactics would not be allowed.

Addressing a press conference at the Governor House, he said: "We will not allow forward blocs in the Punjab in any name, such as Q, M or N blocs." Punjab senior Minister Raja Riaz, PPP senior leader Qasim Zia, Punjab Population Welfare Minister Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry, provincial Minister Farooq Ghurki and MPA Athar Gorchani were also present.

He said the president's office was the right of the Pakistan People's Party, being the largest political party having representation in all the four provinces and considered a symbol of the federation. He said he would ensure that no provincial resources or unfair means were used in the election.

He said that he had called the Punjab chief secretary and the IGP Punjab in the morning and issued a stern warning against the use of state machinery and resources. "I asked them it is not the election of a district Nazim and I will not allow Changa Manga-style politics," he stated.

The governor said: "There are numerous blocs being made in the province but we won't allow them. We want the election to be held without horse-trading, corruption and political bribery etc. We want the prestige of all political parties to remain intact in the Punjab."

He said canvassing was not wrong and it was the right of every party. "We respect the Q-League and the N-League, but won't allow provincial resources for the election. There is a difference between canvassing and making blocs," he added.

Answering a question why he was campaigning for a political candidate against the norm of his office and constitutional requirement to remain neutral and apolitical, the governor denied he was leading Asif Zardari's presidential campaign. "I am the governor of the province. I am not leading his campaign as I have nothing to do with the polls. I am not even a member of parliament," he added.To another question, he said the Punjab Assembly was not being dissolved.