LAHORE: After extensive verbal tussle, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) have apparently targeted each other’s publicity banners and posters displayed on electric poles and other public property in NA-120.
The PTI has targeted the PML-N candidate for NA-120 by-poll Kalsoom Nawaz’s posters in a clever manner. The PTI did not tear apart or remove banners of Kalsoom. Instead, they placed banners inscribed with “Business in London, children in London, property in London, Eids in London…Only ruler in Pakistan”, just behind the publicity posters of Kalsoom Nawaz on Mall Road, Fan Road, Mozang, Beadon Road, Queens Road, Temple Road and almost all areas of NA-120.
However, the PML-N has not targeted PTI’s candidate’s Dr Yasmin Rashid’s posters in the same way. They have rather targeted her posters in a way traditional of Pakistan politics. Her posters have been allegedly torn apart by the PML-N workers on Mall Road, Fan Road, Temple Road, Mozang etc.
The Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and PTI have raised objections over approval of Kalsoom’s nomination papers for NA-120 by-poll as she is in London for cancer treatment.
They have also moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the approval of her nomination papers for NA-120 by-poll and the court has sought reply from the federal government and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for accepting her papers.
Yasmin Rashid said that the PML-N is trying to control the situation from London as they did before. “Why did the PML-N not construct any new hospital in NA-120 in the last 30 years of the rule? At least they would have constructed a hospital where they themselves could have availed treatment facilities. They would not have to go to London for treatment,” she said. She reiterated that the PTI doesn’t buy votes, but goes to the public for them.
The areas in NA-120 constituency include Sanda, Shamnagar, Chauburji, Islamapura, Sanatnagar, Rajgarh, Riwaz Garden, Mozang, Lake Road, Lower Mall, New Anarkali, Lytton Road, Queens Road, Hall Road, Cooper Road, Mayo Hospital, Urdu Bazaar, Bilal Gunj, Ravi Colony, Kasurpura, Khokhar Town and Mominpura.
The NA-120 is considered a strong hold of the PML-N as the party has never lost an election in this constituency since 1985.
However, Yasmin Rashid gave Nawaz Sharif a tough time by securing around 52,000 votes in General Elections of 2013.
A neck-to-neck competition is expected between Yasmin Rashid and Kalsoom Nawaz on September 17. The seat fell vacant after Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz Sharif over Panama Leaks case on July 28.
