LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday requested the Lahore High Court (LHC) to ensure a fair and transparent runoff election of the chief minister of Punjab taking place on July 22 in light of a direction of the Supreme Court.

PTI MPA Zainab Umair filed a writ petition through Azhar Siddique advocate, saying there were apprehensions that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan would use the state machinery to sabotage the election of the chief minister.

The petitioner said after the victory of PTI in the by-election on 20 seats of provincial assembly, the government could harass the members of her party. She said there was a possibility that the government would resort to coercive measures to keep the PTI MPAs away from the polling for the chief minister.

Ms Umair asked the court to order the authorities to ensure a fair and transparent election on July 22 and free participation of all candidates and members of the assembly in it.

Besides the interior minister, Punjab chief minister, chief secretary, inspector general of police, the Federal Investigation Agency and the National Accountability Bureau have been arrayed as respondents in the petition.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2022