LAHORE: A tough fight is expected between the PML-N and the PTI candidates in the NA-131 by-election scheduled for Oct 14.

PML-N stalwart Khwaja Saad Rafique is leaving no opportunity to embarrass PTI candidate Humayun Akhtar Khan.

Replying to a tweet referring that Mr Khan had applied for the PML-N party ticket in the 2018 general election and later joined the PTI to get a party ticket, Mr Rafique tweeted, “Why he (Humayun Akhtar Khan) had applied for PML-N ticket, if (our) party is standing on the wrong side.”

He also sarcastically chided the PTI candidate while stating, “PML-N first choice – if granted ticket, otherwise PTI ticket”. Calling the move hypocrisy, he asked whether the liars and turncoats would change the fate of Pakistan.

The NA-131 seat was vacated by Prime Minister Imran Khan who had defeated Saad Rafique with a close margin.

Meanwhile, Saad Rafique said the incumbent PTI government carried fake mandate but the PML-N did not want to topple it as it might derail democracy as well.

Speaking at a corner meeting as part of election campaign at PM Imran Khan’s cousin Saaedullah Niazi’s residence, Mr Rafique said the prime minister was failing on all fronts. He said the PML-N did not go for sit-in to save the continuity of democracy. “Either Imran Khan should perform well for the people of Pakistan or go home,” he said.

For the construction of dams, he said, the government should look for investment at the international level. PM Imran Khan also chaired a meeting to review preparations for by-election and made it clear that the candidates should themselves make efforts to win the election as the government would not interfere in the by-election.

He stressed that the party candidates should run their door-to-door campaign. The PTI candidates for by-election attended the meeting at Banigala, Islamabad. It is learnt that PTI candidate for NA-131 Humayun Akhtar Khan complained that bureaucracy and police were interfering and clearly favouring PML-N candidate Saad Rafique.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2018