Imran calls NA-120 poll ‘test case’ for Lahorites

PTI chief says govt should stop targeting Shaukat Khanum Hospital

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan has said the NA-120 by-election has become a ‘test case’ for people to prove they stand for the rule of law and do not support the ‘plunderers of national wealth’.

“The NA-120 by-election has a great significance because it will make it clear whether Lahoriites support the rule of law or a corrupt person,” he said while addressing a news conference on Saturday.

Polling for NA-120 (Lahore-III), the seat which fell vacant after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, will take place on September 17. Besides others, Sharif’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz and PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid are in the run for the seat.

Imran accused Sharif of laundering billions of rupees through his offshore companies. “The apex court has sent him packing for corruption but he is still looking for an escape.”

He asked his party workers to inform NA-120 voters that “voting for Sharif and his representatives means they are supporting corruption in the country”.



“There is a dire need for making people aware of mega corruption in which the Sharif family is involved,” he added.

Imran said his party was struggling to eradicate corruption from the country. “Now, it is the turn of NA-120 people to prove what type of Pakistan they want. Whether they want a corruption-free country where law is equal for both the rich and the poor or they want to maintain the status quo?”

He said the apex court had offered Sharif nearly a year and a half to prove his innocence but he failed to produce a single document in his favour.

“In fact, the Sharif family submitted fake documents before the top court, including the letter of a Qatari prince. After accepting the ownership of the London flats, it was the Sharifs’ responsibility to satisfy the court by providing money trail of the assets to prove their innocence,” he maintained.

Imran said his party had completed its homework and decided to actively participate in the NA-120 by-election, adding that it would not allow anyone to play with the public mandate.

Earlier, the PTI chief chaired a party meeting in connection with the by-election.

Meanwhile, security officials deputed at the PTI office clashed with scores of party workers after they tried to force their way into the property where Imran was chairing the meeting.