LAHORE (Staff Report) – LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday cast his vote in Local Bodies elections at a polling station in UC 70 in Sarai Sultan amid tight security.
“I have full faith in democracy and democracy is our future,” the premier said after casting his vote.
The prime minister also added that participation in the democratic process by the people of Pakistan showed their resolve in the constitution and the rule of law. “There is no other road to progress and development except for an adherence to democratic values,” he added.
The PM’s arrival sparked a protest as authorities stopped the polling for an hour before his arrival.
Scores of male and female voters, most probably staunch supporters of the ruling party, queued up outside the polling station as authorities prepared for the high-profile visit.
When asked as to why the voters were not allowed to enter the polling station, a senior police official came up with a bizarre explanation that entry door of the station was closed to keep the media at bay.
Sajida Mir, a Member of the Punjab Assembly belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), staged a protest outside the polling station, chanting slogans against the prime minister.
The venue was echoing with slogans “Go Nawaz Go” as the voters joined the angry PPP lawmaker, demanding the prime minister to give the people right to vote.
As if it was not enough, some PML-N supporters decided to counter the PPP lawmaker by chanting slogans in favour of their party leader.
While this was happening outside the polling station, Nawaz Sharif reached the polling station and cast his vote without any disturbance.
The prime minister came out from the polling station smiling and waving to his supporters, and left the area without talking to media.
