NA-120 by-election contest between corruption, professionalism: PTI's Shah Mehmood

MANCHESTER: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Sunday evening that the Pakistani people have already decided in favour of his party. 

Speaking to the media in Oldham at a fundraising dinner for NA-120, Qureshi said, "NA-120 is a contest between corruption and a professional middle-class woman, who has proved herself over the years that she is the first available choice for the constituents".

He was referring to Dr Yasmin Rashid, who will be contesting the election from the PTI ticket. She contested the election from the same constituency in the 2013 General Elections and lost to Nawaz Sharif by a margin of around 40,000 votes. 

Replying to a question about the opposition and a member of government present in London at the same time, Qureshi said, "It is just a coincidence that all of us are here; PTI leadership and I were here to attend a wedding."

The winners, losers and the issues of NA-120

Most of my conversations these days, with friends from outside Lahore, end with the following queries: “Who do you think will win the NA-120 by-poll? Could it go to the PML-N’s Begum Kulsoom...

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is in London to spend time with his wife, who is the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's candidate for NA-120. She is undergoing treatment for lymphoma. Moreover, Nawaz's brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is also in London on a private visit. 

The PTI leader explained why the event was held, saying, "I am delighted to see so many workers here to support their party; it was purely due to popular demand of these workers that we held this fundraising dinner for the NA-120 campaign".

The northwest wing of PTI UK had organised the fundraising dinner for the by-election. Local and regional heads of PTI UK, Haider Ali Khan — a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, and a high number of party workers were also present at the event.

Imran, other politicians and celebrities meet at London wedding

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was also a guest at the wedding

Some PTI workers reportedly paid as high as £50 only to get into the event; however, all the funds raised through the dinner are said to be going towards the NA-120 campaign.

The NA-120 seat fell vacant when Nawaz was disqualified from holding the office of prime minister as a result of the Supreme Court's judgment in the Panama Papers case. 

The by-election will be held on September 17.