LAHORE: PML-N senior leader Saad Rafique has claimed that his party will win all 14 seats from Lahore despite huge spending of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on its election campaign in the city.

“The PTI has acquired all billboard points in Lahore and is spending billions of rupees on its campaign in the city. But despite this the PML-N will win all 14 national assembly seats,” the former railways minister said at a press conference here on Saturday.

He said the Election Commission of Pakistan should take notice of violation of code of conduct by the PTI candidates in Lahore.

He accused the PTI leadership of inciting its workers to violence. He said PTI chairman Imran Khan was responsible for his workers attitude. “The PTI workers hurl abuses at the PML-N candidates during the campaign but we ignore.”

He said Imran Khan through his foul language had annoyed his voters and he was going to lose the July 25 polls. “Imran will neither become prime minister nor his party will get a majority,” he declared.

Saad Rafique further said the ECP should provide polling bags to a presiding officer of a polling station according to the number of votes over there. Besides, the polling agents should be allowed to sit in front of the ballot boxes, he added.

To a question about PML-N’s reservations ahead of the polls, Rafique said: “We want a level-playing field for all parties in the elections. To accept the July 25 results by PML-N depends upon ‘activities’ during the coming four days.”

Responding to Saad Rafique’s claim, PTI leader Aleem Khan said he was living in a fool’s paradise. “PML-N’s performance will be worse than the 2002 polls,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, PML-N candidate for NA-130 Waheed Alam Khan has alleged that ‘hidden hands’ were harassing PML-N workers in the constituency. “The workers are being stopped from opening party offices. Our flexes are being removed,” Khan said and named one Hamid for harassing the PML-N workers.

Speaking at a press conference here the PML-N candidate said despite all such tactics the people would come out on July 25 and vote for Nawaz Sharif. Another candidate for provincial assembly seat Bilal Yasin said contesting elections against ‘agencies’ was challenging. He said area goons were roaming around with weapons but they were not being taken to task. He also urged the ECP to take notice of violation of code of conduct.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2018