Opposition claims voters’ support in by-polls
The opposition members of Punjab Assembly claimed on Tuesday that the ruling party had lost recent by-polls because the voters had supported their stance about the government's incompetence and flawed policies in running the state affairs.
The lawmakers also lamented an incident of firing on the election day wherein two people were killed and several others injured.
They said they had never seen such scenes where motorcyclists were seen firing in broad daylight. "The polling day was a black day in political history," said PPP parliamentary leader Syed Hassan Murtaza.
He also highlighted a press release issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), claiming that it had proven all the fears correct. However, MPA Murtaza said the ECP had not come up to the raised expectations regarding action against those responsible for the fiasco.
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He claimed that the government was facing defeats in elections conducted anywhere in the country.
Provincial Minister for Prisons Fayazul Hassan Chohan lambasted the opposition, denying the impression that PTI had lost the elections.
He said the vote bank of PTI had increased as compared to the past.
The minister also presented a comparison of Sindh and Punjab's jails regarding the facilities being provided to the prisoners. He cited PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh's condition in a Sindh jail and the facilities being provided to PML-N's Mian Shehbaz Sharif in Punjab.
Hassan Murtaza said the opposition had confronted dictators rather than begging for favours from them.
PML-N' s Awais Leghari levelled allegations of rigging on the government. "The ECP's press release is the charge sheet of ECP on the present regime," he added.
The former minister said the government had made every effort to win the by-polls by creating an unpleasant atmosphere and rigging but the people had foiled its every move.
The assembly session was summoned on the requisition of the opposition.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2021.