Lodhran by-election: Sarwar says PML-N tying to avoid electoral contest

Former governor calls SC decision disappointing

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) provincial organiser Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said on Tuesday that the party was ready to contest the forthcoming by-elections and local government polls unlike the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The former governor made the remarks while speaking to newsmen. Sarwar said the PML-N had been trying to abandon the electoral battlefield by seeking refuge in court orders. He made the comments in the wake of Tuesday’s Supreme Court (SC) ruling that suspended the verdict of an electoral tribunal which had de-seated a PML-N man from NA-154 and ordered by-elections to be organised in the constituency. He said the decision was disappointing.

Sarwar said former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq would also try to avoid by-elections. He said the PML-N had become cognisant of its imminent defeat in Lodhran after erstwhile party activists had pledged their support for PTI’s Jahangir Tareen. The former governor said the SC decision had left the PTI and the people crestfallen. “The decision has blocked the democratic path for the PTI.  It is such instances that pave the way for revolutions,” he said.

The former governor called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take notice of “pre-poll rigging” by the government. He said it had floated tenders for development projects to the tune of Rs3.25 billion till October 6. Sarwar said the PML-N had been using police to victimise PTI activists. He said the party would not boycott the polls despite the best efforts of the government.

He lambasted the PML-N saying it was completely bereft of morality. “In any other democracy, the government would have stepped down had election tribunals established electoral malpractice across three constituencies. This is not the case with this government,” Sarwar said

The former governor challenged the PML-N to reveal its intentions regarding contesting by-elections. He said there was a high probability of the party trying to also avoid by-polls in NA-122. Sarwar said Sadiq’s petition against the verdict of an election tribunal was scheduled to be heard on October 10. He said he had been gearing up to prevent by-polls from being conducted in NA-122. The former governor asked the government to reveal whether it would be contesting the by-elections. “How long will the PML-N continue to hide behind courts instead of facing us?” he said.

PTI chairman Imran Khan is expected to arrive in the city on Wednesday (today) to lead the party’s campaign in NA-122. Khan will inaugurate party offices and address rallies in the constituency over two days.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2015.