Supporters of Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) blocked the main road in Faisal Town with flaming tyres here on Monday in a protest against alleged rigging by Shafqat Mehmood of Tehreek-i-Insaf.
The protestors also burnt an effigy of the PTI candidate, who defeated PML-N candidate Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan at NA-126.
“He rigged the elections with the help of police to win the National Assembly seat,” said Asif Ali, a PML-N supporter at the protest.
Mehmood polled 93,513 votes to edge out Hassaan with 86,700 votes in the only National Assembly contest in Lahore not won by the PML-N.
“It is a traditional PML-N seat and the people in this constituency support the PML-N leadership. He (Mehmood) could not have won without rigging with the help of police and official machinery,” said Khurram, a resident of NA-126.
NA-126 includes the areas of Model Town, Gulberg, Makkah Colony, Madina Colony, Naseerabad, Shah Kamal, Pakki Thatthi, Kashmir Block, Rehmanpura, Gulshan Iqbal, Sikandar Block, Awan Town, Johar Town, Garden Town, Model Town, Township, Liberty, Ferozepur Road, Kalma Chowk, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Wafaqi Colony, Allam Iqbal Town, Wahdat Colony, Najaf Colony, Punjab University New Campus, Muslim Town and parts of Johar Town.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.