LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday cast his vote in local government election at a polling station in UC 70 in Sarai Sultan amid tight security.
Sharif’s arrival sparked a protest as authorities stopped the polling for an hour before arrival of the prime minister. TV footages showed scores of male and female voters, most probably staunch supporters of the ruling party, queued up outside the polling station as authorities prepared for the high-profile visit.
When asked as to why the voters were not allowed to enter the polling station, a senior police official came up with a bizarre explanation that entry door of the station was closed to keep the media at bay.
Sajda Mir, a Member of the Punjab Assembly belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), staged a protest outside the polling station, chanting slogans against the prime minister. The venue was echoing with slogans “Go Nawaz Go” as voters joined the angry PPP lawmaker, demanding the prime minister to give the people right to vote.
As if it was not enough, some PML-N supporters decided to counter the PPP lawmaker by chanting slogans in favour of the prime minister. While this was happening outside the polling station, Nawaz Sharif reached the polling station and cast his vote without any disturbance.
The prime minister came out from the polling station smiling and waving to his supporters, and left the area without talking to the media.
While, Police personnel on Saturday nabbed guard of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Chaudhry Sarwar as weapons recovered from his vehicle in Lahore’s UC-211 during polling for local government elections.
According to initial details, as many as two police officers have been deployed at the security for Chaudhary Sarwar.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued directives, forbidding display of arms licensed or non-licensed on October 31 and November 1 whereas section-144 was also imposed to ban pillion riding in both provinces.