PML-N was waiting for PTI to lose its ‘bat’ before starting its innings: PPP leader

SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Khursheed Shah on Tuesday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been waiting for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to lose its iconic bat electoral symbol before beginning its political innings,

He was apparently referring to the PML-N launching its election campaign a day after the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision to declare the PTI’s intra-party polls “unconstitutional,” depriving the party of its bat symbol just weeks ahead of the February 8 polls.

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz kicked off her party’s election campaign on Monday with a public rally in Okara.

Addressing the rally, Maryam launched a tirade at PTI founder Imran Khan and blamed him for orchestrating and carrying out May 9 violent attacks.

She mocked the PTI founder over “snatching” of his electoral symbol saying that his election symbol should not be a bat but a “baton,” accusing his party of attacking military installations during May 9 protests.

In a statement, Shah said they wanted a level playing field for all political parties. The PPP stalwart said he believed that the PTI should participate in the election despite being deprived of their electoral symbol.

“The PTI did not implement the law while conducting intra-party election, therefore, they were stripped of the bat symbol,” he said.

He said it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other state institutions to hold free and fair elections. The general elections would be held on February 8 and there should be no confusion about it, he added.

The PPP leader said all the parties would accept the results if elections were conducted transparently.

He said an alliance was made against the PPP but their candidates were not seen anywhere.