Despite the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s warning that rallies should be held within the constituency of NA-120, three main political parties - PML-N, PTI and PPP - continued campaigning in the constituency through rallies. While the election campaign is going to finish from Friday midnight, political temperature reached at its peak in the constituency on Thursday. The candidates and their supporters continued establishing contacts with the voters to get support for by-poll scheduled for Sunday.
The media campaign for contesting candidates is also being launched through advertisements on TV channels as well as on social media. The constituency of NA-120 is full of banners of the contesting candidates while their supporters are going door-to-door to win support from the voters. In a letter to the government of Punjab, the ECP has asked authorities to ensure that no political conventions or processions are held in the constituency on September 14.
Letters were also sent to the Punjab chief secretary and the Inspector General of police, asking them to ensure the implementation of the code of conduct in the constituency, a press release from the ECP announced. On Thursday, the PTI held a rally from Chairing Cross to Data Darbar which was led by Chairman Imran Khan. Although the route of the rally falls within the said constituency, the PTI leaders said that the purpose of the rally is to visit the Data Darbar's shrine by Imran Khan.
The PPP also held a rally on Temple Road, Mozang, which was attended by several PPP leaders. The PML-N also held a women convention at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, besides corner meetings in the constituency. Maryam Nawaz addressed the convention. In her address, she said people of NA-120 would show their love and affection for Nawaz Sharif on September 17.
In the aggressive by-poll campaign for the NA-120 constituency launched by the PML-N, Maryam has time and again insisted that her father's case is in the public's court. During her speeches to different members of the constituency, the former prime minister's daughter has reiterated that it is imperative that the country's system through which 'dictators' such as Pervez Musharraf have become more powerful than the judiciary, must be changed.
Maryam has asked the PML-N supporters to come out and show the world that their votes are for Nawaz Sharif. "Come out to show your support for Nawaz on September 17," she said, adding: "Come out on September 17 if you oppose Nawaz's disqualification. You must show the world that you are against injustice and oppression," she urged the voters in the constituency. As many as 44 candidates will contest the NA-120 by-polls.