LAHORE, Dec 21: The PML-N on Saturday demanded that physician Dr Ahmed Javed Khwaja and his family members, apprehended by the FBI, should be released immediately or the party legislators would protest outside the Punjab Assembly building on Dec 24 and also raise the issue in the assembly, which is due to meet the same day.

Provincial secretary-general Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Inamullah Khan Niazi and Zaeem Qadri said at a news conference that the government should also apologize to the family for maltreatment.

They said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would also cooperate with the PML-N.

Saad was critical of the Punjab government for taking steps to rig byelections to PP-142 and 147. Some police officials had been posted in Lahore to win the seats at all costs, he said.

He recalled that he had sent a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, informing him about the government’s designs. But, he regretted, the CEC did not respond.

The party also tried to raise the matter before the Lahore High Court through a writ, but everytime it was returned with some objection.

Inamullah Niazi and Zaeem Qadri, who are contesting on the two seats, alleged that the railways minister had paid a special visit to Lahore to tell the residents of railways lands to vote for PML-Q candidates or face ejectment.

Fearing clashes in the two constituencies, they said they would hold the Punjab chief minister and the director-general of the Pakistan Rangers responsible for any such eventuality.