LAHORE: With the by-election in NA-120 constituency inching closer, political parties have stepped up campaign to garner as much support as possible for their candidates in the run for the National Assembly seat.
The PML-N, PTI and PPP candidates are among 44 candidates vying for the NA-120 seat vacated after the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif by Supreme Court in Panamagate verdict.
The by-poll in the constituency is scheduled to be held on Sept 17.
On Sunday, Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, presided over a meeting of PML-N leaders to discuss the election-related matters. Senior party leaders, including former information minister Pervaiz Rasheed and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, attended the meeting.
Whereas, PTI candidate Yasmeen Rashid carried with her door to door campaign on Sunday to convince the constituents of NA-120 to vote for her in the by-election. PTI chairman Imran Khan will lead a public rally in NA-120 after his return from London on Sept 12.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Faisal Mir took out a rally in the constituency, which was attended by senior party leader Qamar Zaman Kaira. Addressing the participants, Kaira slammed the former prime minister, saying his party had advised him to step down in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks but he didn’t. As a result, the court sent him packing, he added.
A day before, Returning Officer Muhammad Shahid issued notice to Provincial Food Minister Bilal Yaseen and MPA Malik Saif ul Malook Khokhar for participating in a rally of Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister, who is running the election campaign of her mother and PML-N candidate Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
They have been asked to submit explanation for violating the ECP’s code of conduct for the by-election.
More than three lac voters will exercise their right to franchise. ECP said 220 polling stations, including 103 for men and 98 for women voters, would be set up in the constituency.
