NA-120: Unidentified gunmen resort to aerial firing outside PTI office

LAHORE: In another incident, unidentified armed men resorted to aerial firing outside Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election office at Sanda area in NA-120 constituency of Lahore, ARY News reported.

This is the second such incident which the opposition party has blamed on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) to harass rival parties ahead of by-election in the NA-120 vacated after the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Unidentified armed men resorted to aerial firing outside the PTI’s election office in Sanda and speed away, said the police, adding that efforts are being made to nab the culprits.

Following the incident, PTI workers gathered outside the office and protested against the firing incident. They said they cannot be frightened by such incidents.

A day before, police said they had arrested three men for their alleged involvement in aerial firing outside election offices of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Lahore’s NA-120 constituency.

The incident had occurred outside PTI office at UC 65 in Islampura, according to the PTI. Subsequently, Dr Yasmin Rashid, the party’s candidate for NA-120 by-polls, condemned the incident. Whereas, PPP claimed the incident was an attempt to harass party workers ahead of the September 17 by-polls.

The NA-120 seat fell vacant after PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif stepped down as Prime Minister in the wake of landmark Supreme Court verdict in the Panama Papers case.

The by-polls are scheduled to be held on September 17.