The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has condemned what it termed a 'raid' at the office of Malik Nawaz Awan, the party’s candidate for PP-168 Lahore by-election scheduled to be held on July 17.
PTI Senator Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry urged the Punjab police “not to become personal slaves of Hamza Shehbaz”, the provincial chief minister, while party’s senior leader Dr Yasmin Rashid called on the police to “stop open bullying”.
PTI leader Farrukh Habib alleged that the raid occurred as a result of “fears of defeat” on part of the provincial government.
The Lahore Police, however, denied the allegations and said that the “police did not raid any PTI candidate's office”.
The Lahore Police Operations Wing spokesperson said: “Private armed men were accompanied by gunmen from another province in a corner meeting with PTI candidate Malik Nawaz Awan in a private market.”
The use of private gunmen in the election campaign is a clear violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct and therefore the “private gunmen” were arrested by the police, the spokesperson added.
The police also shared video footage of a private gunman, claiming to be from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to corroborate their claims.
The action was taken due to the presence of armed men, the police said.
PTI Senator Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry urged the Punjab police “not to become personal slaves of Hamza Shehbaz”, the provincial chief minister, while party’s senior leader Dr Yasmin Rashid called on the police to “stop open bullying”.
PTI leader Farrukh Habib alleged that the raid occurred as a result of “fears of defeat” on part of the provincial government.
The Lahore Police, however, denied the allegations and said that the “police did not raid any PTI candidate's office”.
The Lahore Police Operations Wing spokesperson said: “Private armed men were accompanied by gunmen from another province in a corner meeting with PTI candidate Malik Nawaz Awan in a private market.”
The use of private gunmen in the election campaign is a clear violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct and therefore the “private gunmen” were arrested by the police, the spokesperson added.
The police also shared video footage of a private gunman, claiming to be from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to corroborate their claims.
The action was taken due to the presence of armed men, the police said.