NA-120 by-election: Yasmeen laments ECP inaction over unverified voters

LAHORE: With the by-election in NA-120 constituency, vacated after disqualification of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, approaching fast, the electioneering by various candidates to garner as much support as possible has gained momentum.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Yasmeen Rashid carried with her door to door campaign on Saturday to convince the constituents of NA-120 to vote for her in the by-election scheduled to be held on Sept 17.

Speaking to media, she took a swipe at the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) over lack of basic amenities in the constituency.

She said the residents of the constituency didn’t have access to potable water and better healthcare facilities because of the government’s lack of interest.

If Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif could construct flyovers within six months why can’t hospitals be built with that pace in the area, she questioned.

She alleged that pre-poll rigging was in full swing in the constituency. Around 30,000 voters remained unverified and the party had approached the ECP in this regard, but no action being taken.

A day earlier, PTI chairman Imran Khan had also addressed a public gathering in the constituency and billed the by-election as an important one to ‘determine the fate of the country.’

Meanwhile, the 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.