Former premier and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has said everyone had the right to campaign but asserted that “purchasing votes” is the worst form of disrespect to the democratic process.

His comments came after PML-N leader Atta Tarar alleged that the PPP was “buying votes” by seizing identity cards of people. At the same time, the Bilawal-led party claimed that Tarar and his “goons” stormed the PPP’s office in Lahore and harassed party workers.

“Everyone has a right to participated in electioneering, but this business is nothing but demeaning the vote […] this is not ‘vote ko izzat do’,” Shehbaz said.