LAHORE: The Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) on Monday staged a protest rally in Lahore against alleged “rigging” in the recently held July 25 elections. TLP chief and firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi lead the protest rally from Data Darbar to the Punjab Assembly. Hundreds of TLP workers, including party’s ticket holders, participated in the rally, complaining that their mandate was stolen only to let secular and anti-religion forces to enter the power corridors. Addressing the rally, Rizvi said that TLP polling agents were forcibly ousted from the polling stations on the polling day. “Not a single political party has such charged workers, rallying for not only for a noble cause but for a holy mission,” said Rizvi as rainwater trickled down his face. “We awarded tickets to ordinary people of the society just to give a message that TLP was a party of the masses working for the religion but anti-religion forces deliberately stopped our candidates from entering the assemblies.” Rizvi also announced that TLP would contest by-elections to be held in the country after taking consent of party workers who strongly favoured his decision. It might be mentioned that the TLP surprisingly managed to secure over 2.2 million votes and emerged as fifth largest political parties in terms of vote strength and the third largest party in Punjab just behind the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz. Published in Daily Times, August 7th 2018.