LAHORE: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has condemned PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’ poisonous propaganda against the government and state institutions just to make the Daska, Sialkot, election controversial.

Speaking at a press conference at DGPR offices on Saturday, Dr Awan said Ms Nawaz was continuously telling lies and distorting the facts to make election controversial. She said Maryam Nawaz had showed a video clip in her presser and alleged that the ruling party camp committed hooliganism and opened fire and added that video exposed that the PML-N workers and leaders had attacked a polling station, opened fire and killed an innocent worker, while several others were lying injured.

Dr Awan alleged that PML-N Punjab president Rana Sanaullah, who was the mastermind of Model Town tragedy, had planned that the Daska election should bleed that led to the death of two political workers.

She said the people of Daska had rejected the hereditary politics of PML-N, adding that those who used to chant slogans of ‘vote of izzat do’ were not ready to accept the success of PTI leader Ali Asjad Malhi.

The SACM said it was surprising that on the one hand, PML-N was celebrating its victory in Wazirabad while on the other hand, it was accusing the government of rigging the by-election in Daska. Similarly, she said, Maryam Nawaz was also celebrating its win in Nowshera, KP, where PTI had its government, and terming it her party narrative’s win.

“All this shows the double standards of PML-N,” she said and added that the PTI was a staunch believer of empowering and strengthening state institutions while ensuring that they should work within their legal and constitutional framework.

Dr Awan said all the presiding officers had conveyed the results to the Returning Officer through WhatsApp on the same night according to which PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi had won the election and PML-N candidate was defeated.She said the PML-N had always come into power by using unfair means and was not ready to accept the legitimate mandate of the people.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2021