LAHORE: Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday launched his by-election campaign in Lahore’s NA-124.

Mr Abbasi led a motorcycle rally from Bhatti Chowk in which PML-N leaders MNA Malik Waheed Khan and Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman also participated.

Mr Abbasi rode the bike amid slogans of ‘sher’ and said the people of his constituency loved PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif. He said his party would clinch the seat on Oct 14. He said the PTI government was a ‘selected’ one and had been exposed before every one because of its anti-people policies.

He said only Nawaz Sharif delivered in this country and met all challenges.

Mr Abbasi is also holding meetings with the PML-N workers from the constituency of old Lahore vacated by Hamza Shahbaz, son of PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, in July 25 polls. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Nauman Qaisar lost election to Hamza with a margin of about 70,000 votes. The PTI has fielded Dewan Ghulam Mohyuddin against Mr Abbasi.

In the general election, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi lost two NA seats he contested -- his hometown Murree’s NA-57 and Islamabad’s NA-53 -- to Sadaqat Abbasi and PTI chairman Imran Khan, respectively.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2018