Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday warned provincial police officials and the civil administration to immediately halt crackdown against party workers as well as office-bearers or get ready to face the music once PML-N is back in power after the July 25 general elections. “I want to convey to the police and district administration of Lahore that time does not remain the same always… PML-N is going to win the upcoming elections despite the fact that hindrances are being created in our way by the caretaker government,” Shehbaz told a hurriedly called press conference at the party secretariat. “All officials involved in illegal detention of our workers will be sent behind the bars after July 25,” he asserted.

Shehbaz alleged that the caretaker government of the province has allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to hold public gathering in Lahore but PML-N is being denied the same. “When PML-N plans a rally to welcome its quaid back home, we are told that Section 144 is in place in the city,” he lamented.

“These are the double standards of the caretakers … it is pre-poll rigging … only PML-N is being cornered,” he added.

Talking about Punjab interim chief minister, Shehbaz said the PML-N had already raised questions regarding Askari’s biased approach and anti-democratic credentials. “… and now it’s evident that he is favouring the PTI,” he claimed.

Lashing out at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PML-N president said the commission has miserably failed to ‘deliver’. He asked the ECP to pass an order regarding the release of all the arrested PML-N workers, arguing that the Supreme Court has also made it clear that no political worker will be arrested ahead of the general elections.

Sharing the details of Nawaz Sharif’s return, Shehbaz said that he will be landing along with his daughter at the Lahore airport as per schedule, adding that rumours regarding cancellation of his flight are baseless. “Pakistan is the first love of Nawaz Sharif and therefore he has decided to come back to his country despite the fact that he knows very well that he will be arrested upon his arrival,” he said.

Workers of PML-N will give a warm welcome to their supreme leader, Shehbaz said, adding that he himself will lead a rally from Lohari Gate towards the airport after the Friday prayers. “I won’t be responsible for the consequences if we are not provided with a level-playing field … things might get out of my control even,” he warned.

Meanwhile, in a video message released on Thursday, the mother of Nawaz Sharif said that she would also go to the airport to welcome her son. “I would not let anyone arrest my son and granddaughter,” she said, adding that she will also go to the jail along with them. She claimed that her son was being victimized for raising the slogan of ‘sanctity of vote’.

The district administration has placed containers at the entry and exit points of the provincial capital as well as at the main arteries within the city. Over 10,000 police officials have been deputed in the city besides deployment of Anti-Riot Force and Dolphin Squad for security. Massive clashes between police and PML-N workers are expected at the Mall Road and Lohari Gate as police is reluctant to allow PML-N workers reach the airport.

Published in Daily Times, July 13^th 2018.