ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: Secretary-general Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and deputy parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf has expressed grave concern over the arrest of a lawyer of Dr Zahid Akram, Awam Dost Candidate in the third phase of the local bodies elections in Lahore.

In a statement MNA Ashraf alleged that the regime had resorted to all kinds of coercion and highhandedness in the first and second phase of elections and now the arrest of the lawyer has given a new dimension to the entire electoral process in the country.

He said the arrest of a lawyer has also annoyed the legal fraternity in Lahore, which held an emergency meeting and asked the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court to ensure that such incidents don’t take place in the future.

The party believes in dispensation of justice and the rights of the people to defend themselves and their views without any hindrance, he said.

He asked the CEC to ensure free, fair and transparent elections by asserting its authority so that such unfortunate incidents do not occur in the future.