Tough contest seen in Pakistan by-polls today

An agitated Imran urged PML-N workers to question their leaders regarding their assets. "Do you have the courage to question their assets and investments which lie abroad?" he said.

Islamabad: Main political rivals, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) election campaigns for by-elections in NA-122 (Lahore) and NA-144 (Okara) reached its peak on Sunday as leaders traded serious charges against each other including sedition, corruption and mismanagement. The election campaigns finally came an end on friday night and polling will be held on Sunday.
Both parties staged rallies in Lahore with PTI chief Imran Khan addressed a large crowd in Mozang crossing in Lahore while the PML-N rally was led for party candidate former speaker Ayaz Sadiq and by Hamza Shahbaz, the son of Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. Both sides claimed their candidates would win.
An agitated Imran urged PML-N workers to question their leaders regarding their assets. "Do you have the courage to question their assets and investments which lie abroad?" he said.
Imran lashed out at the Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, who, in a recent statement, called him a traitor. "Those who stole Pakistan's money and invested it abroad are the real traitors," he said. He repudiated allegation of securing foreign funding and made a counter charge against Nawaz Sharif. He said he brought his entire earnings to Pakistan and has not a penny abroad. "I will live and die in Pakistan and that is why I am not a traitor." "Tame your ministers, Mian sahib!" he added.
Hamza Shahbaz and Sadiq accused Imran of attempts to subvert development agenda of present government which they claimed had set the country on path of stability and progress.
In a separate gathering near Lahore, PM Nawaz Sharif also urged Imran to shun negative politics and use of foul language. He said he would never abuse anybody but would keep political discourse within civilized norms.
Sadiq is pitted against PTI's Aleem Khan.
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• Pakistan