LAHORE: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday over alleged rigging and misconduct in recent by-polls in Punjab province, DawnNews reported.

The application, submitted by MQM leader Shaheen Anwar Gilani in the SC’s Lahore registry, challenges by-elections held on Dec 4 claiming that they were rigged by the Punjab provincial government using the state’s resources.

The petition also alleges that the Election Commission code of conduct was openly violated when supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) resorted to aerial firing during the election.

Speaking to the media, counsel for the MQM Qazi Mubeen said that not only did the Punjab government use the provincial police as “a terrorist force”, but armed members of political parties also roamed freely during the bye-polls.

The petition requests the court to take notice of the rigging and violation of the ECP’s code of conduct, and to issue orders to ensure the misconduct does not take place during general elections.