NA 120 by-poll: PAT's petition against use of 'government machinery' dismissed

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition against alleged use of government machinery in support of PML-N's candidate Begum Kulsoom Nawaz. The court rejected the petition of Ishtiaq Ahmad, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader, and held that the petitioner was not an aggrieved person. Earlier, a returning officer (RO) appeared before the court on Tuesday and declined all the allegations of the petitioner.
The petitioner had alleged that the ruling PML-N provincial government was using its resources to ensure victory of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz in the upcoming by-election. He also alleged that officials of police and other departments had been engaged by the government to rig the election.
He had further alleged that parliamentarians and ministers of the ruling party had been regularly visiting the constituency and making announcements of different development schemes was a blatant violation of the code of conduct set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He had requested that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should order to take action against the open use of government machinery by the PML-N leadership and ensure a fair and free by-election.