NA-122 Verdict: Police reinforcements summoned to keep supporters at bay

LAHORE: The temperature outside the election tribunal expected to announce its verdict over rigging allegations in NA-122 continues to rise as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters fill the air with slogans in favour of their respective leaders.

The official working hours for the tribunal have finished and the verdict regarding alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections in NA-122 Lahore is expected anytime.

Barriers erected to keep the supporters at bay have already been removed by the crowd. PTI chairman Imran Khan has arrived in Lahore ahead of the verdict which could further charge the supporters present at the election tribunal.

Also read:Election tribunal to announce NA-122 rigging verdict today

There is a probability of the verdict being delayed as police officials have briefed the Election Commission that the situation may deteriorate if it is announced today. Secretary Election Commission Babar Yaqoob has called IGP Punjab and said that NA-122 verdict should be announced in a free atmosphere and there should be no intervention.

Earlier in the day the two charged up sides came close to clashing but the situation was kept under control by a large contingency of police commandos and policewomen deployed on site.

Geo News correspondents on the scene reported earlier that police erected barriers in front of the supporters in order to keep them from clashing while the personnel deployed on site created a human wall.

In order to keep the situation under control further police reinforcements have been summoned on site including a water cannon to disperse supporters in case they turn violent.