LAHORE: PML-N workers on Friday blocked a stretch in Defence near Walton Road for several hours against the picking up of their fellows by police ahead of Sunday’s by-poll in their constituency of NA-131.

In a related development, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has blacklisted Khwaja Saad Rafique and his brother, Salman.

Led by PML-N candidate for the by-poll, Saad Rafique, the protesters shouted slogans against the government for allegedly arresting and harassing PML-N workers ahead of the by-poll. Traffic remained suspended for several hours on Walton and Defence roads.

Saad claimed that police raided the houses of at least 35 workers in the constituency to influence the election.

FIA blacklists Saad, Salman on NAB suggestion; bureau denies

“The deputy commissioner on the orders of the Punjab government has got our workers arrested. More lists of workers are being prepared to take them into custody ahead of the poll. Until the arrested workers are released, the PML-N will not end the protest,” he warned.

The PML-N workers, however, dispersed before the deadline to campaign for polls ended on Friday midnight.

Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Shahzad Akbar told Dawn that only one PML-N activist was detained for violation of law (during protest).

On the other hand, the FIA issued a notification blacklisting Saad and Salman on the recommendation of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The NAB however denied doing so.

The NAB has summoned the Khwaja brothers on Oct 16 in the Paragon housing society scam. Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan has hinted at the arrest of the duo upon their appearance before the bureau on Oct 16.

The NAB has already arrested PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif in the Ashiyana housing scheme scandal.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2018