LAHORE: The rivalry between the PML-N and PPP in NA-127 intensified on Saturday when the former’s candidate Atta Tarar allegedly barged into the latter’s party office along with his supporters on the claim that votes were being bought there for his opponent candidate PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The PPP has termed it an attack on the party election office by the “PML-N goons” led by Atta Tarar in which they abducted some PPP workers as well. The PPP also announced moving the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the PML-N candidate.

The political temperature in NA-127 is high because tough competition is expected between Mr Tarar and Mr Bilawal. PTI-backed Zaheer Abbas Khokhar, who is facing hurdles in doing his campaign, is being considered a dark horse.

Utilisation of resources in abundance by the PML-N and PPP candidates in the constituency is being witnessed. While the PML-N is accused of using the caretaker government machinery for Tarar’s campaign the PML-N alleges the PPP is openly buying votes.

PPP leaders allege kidnap of 10 activists, demand action against Tarar

On Saturday, the so-called rivalry between the former ally parties took an ugly turn when Tarar stormed into the PPP election office in Qanchi area.

“Atta Tarar and other PML-N goons attacked the PPP election office of Mian Misbah who is contesting in PP-160 (which comes under NA-127). The PML-N goons ransacked the office and abducted some PPP workers,” PPP Senator Palwasha Khan said.

She said PML-N chief organiser Maryam Nawaz had been upset seeing Mr Bilawal winning from NA-127. “We are going to move the ECP and this will be a test case for it,” she said and asked Atta Tarar not to become “Gulu Butt” of PML-N.

On allegations of buying votes, the PPP senator said the PML-N had a long history of buying votes and loyalties. “We warn the PML-N of stealing the election through such fascist tactics,” she said.

On the other hand, Atta Tarar claimed to have caught three people allegedly buying votes for the PPP candidate. He said both PPP men were taking pledges from women for voting for the PPP candidates against money.

“They have been caught red-handed and we are taking them to Kot Lakhpat police station for their arrest and registration of a case against them,” Tara said and added he would write to the ECP to take action against the PPP candidate. “We will not allow Mr Bilawal to buy votes in Lahore,” he said.

Meanwhile, PPP leaders Raza Rabbani, Zulfiqar Ali Badr, Faisal Mir, and Usman Malik told a press conference that Tarar along with 300 men equipped with weapons attacked the PPP election office and abducted 10 party workers and stole office valuables.

They said the PPP workers made calls on police emergency but they did not respond. They demanded that the Lahore police chief register an FIR against Tarar and his party goons. They said if such incidents were not stopped violent clashes on Feb 8 polls seemed imminent. The PPP has called an emergency meeting of its leaders in the city on Sunday to discuss the matter.

The PPP said it might hold protests in Lahore against the PML-N’s attack on its office. On the other hand, the PML-N said it had handed over three PPP workers to police on charges of buying votes.

A good number of PPP workers gathered outside the Kot Lakhpat police station against the arrest of their three colleagues.

They were chanting slogans against Tarar and the PML-N leadership till the filing of the report at 10:40pm.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2024

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