LAHORE, Dec 30: Punjab PML-N Secretary-General Khwaja Saad Rafiq alleged on Monday that the government was using every conceivable method to help ruling party candidates win by-elections to two Lahore seats.
At a news conference here, he said bogus ID cards and ballot papers were being provided to the PML-Q candidates to ensure their victory.
Also, he said, the DCO’s office had become a hub of political activities and police were pressuring people to set up election offices for ruling party candidates.
Inamullah Khan Niazi, PML-N candidate for PP-142, was also present at the news conference.
Mr Saad believed that the government would fail in its plans and PML-N candidates would win with big margins.
He apprehended that the law and order situation could crop up as a result of the provocative steps being taken by the government.
The responsibility of the consequences of any untoward situation would rest with the rulers, he said.
In a related development, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf candidate for PP-142 Haji Imtiaz retired in favour of the PML-N candidate for the seat.
The decision was announced in the presence of ARD President Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan.
PML-N candidate for PP-147 Zaeem Qadri told reporters that the PTI’s decision would also be helpful to him.
FOUNDATION DAY: The PML-N celebrated the foundation day of the party on Monday by pledging to work for the ideals the party had been launched for.
A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the party’s New Garden Town Secretariat at which Sirdar Zulfikar Ali Khan Khosa, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Dr Asad Ashraf, Haji Imdad Husain, Naseer Ahmed Bhutta, Ijaz Hafeez, Nasir Iqbal Khan and many others were also present.
Subsequently, they went to the Minar-i-Pakistan lawns where they committed themselves to making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, uprooting dictatorship, safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, opposing any attempt to use the army for political power and ensuring the provincial autonomy given under the 1973 Constitution.
The participants also resolved to continue their efforts to bring Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif back to Pakistan.
They also reiterated their commitment to achieve the targets set in the party manifesto.