LAHORE: Flouting the court orders banning use of animals in poll campaigns, the ruling PML-N workers on Wednesday brought a young lion in Maryam Nawaz’s rally on Mohni Road.

The party workers brought the big cat to the rally, loading it onto a vehicle.

The rally organised by Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin was addressed by Maryam Nawaz who asked the participants to vote for her mother Begum Kulsoom in NA-120 by-poll.

Objecting to the stunt, Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf candidate Dr Yasmin Rashid said the PML-N was misusing everything, be it state resources or animals, to win this election.

“Maryam Bibi and her party men are using state machinery in violation of code of conduct given by the Election Commission. Now they are bringing big cats in the rallies showing no concern for the animal,” she told Dawn.

The Lahore High Court, a couple of years ago, had directed local government secretary and Punjab wildlife department to ensure implementation of election commission’s code against exhibition of wild animals during public meetings.

The order was issued after exhibition of wild beasts by some PML-N candidates during local government election campaign in Punjab.

In 2013, a Bengal tiger was brought to the Lahore veterinary hospital in an extremely delicate condition. The tiger had been displayed in a public rally led by Maryam Nawaz.

It was exposed to heat, dust and noise which caused the animal exhaustion and dehydration.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2017