Rules made by ECP only apply to PTI, not others: Yasmin Rashid

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's candidate for NA-120 by-election Yasmin Rashid on Friday said it seems that the rules drawn up for the by-polls by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) only apply to PTI and not other parties contesting the election.

"There is not a single day when the government is not violating the code of conduct," said the PTI candidate.

The PTI candidate was addressing party supporters in the constituency.

"No matter how much they rig the polls, PTI will win," said Rashid.

She also said that the election commission gets powers as soon as the election schedule is released.  

Rashid alleged that the Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) branch in New York was fined due to money laundering by Nawaz Sharif.

"The Habib Bank branch was fined due to money laundering by Nawaz Sharif and his companies," alleged the PTI candidate. 

She added there is a chance that other branches will also be closed and added that evidence is now coming to the forefront. 

Earlier, senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said the ECP's code of conduct is being violated in NA-120.

He claimed that ECP has taken steps only on paper and has yet to take any meaningful measures to address the concerns raised by PTI. 

The PTI vice-chairman said 29,000 identity cards from NA-120 have no record in NADRA and added that if the votes are not verified, then they should be cancelled. 

By-election on the seat left vacant after Sharif’s disqualification by the Supreme Court on July 28, will be held on September 17.

A total of 44 candidates will contest the NA-120 by-poll.

The Election Commission of Pakistan will establish 220 polling stations and 573 polling booths where the constituency’s 321,786 registered voters can cast their vote.