ISLAMABAD: Amid Nawaz Sharif`s homecoming journey to Lahore, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday to take action against the former prime minister for his political activities despite his disqualification by the Supreme Court from holding any political of fice.Dr Yasmeen Rashid, the PTI`s candidate for the National Assembly`s seat NA-120 which has fallen vacant after Mr Sharif`s disqualification, made the demand in a petition she filedbefore the ECP.

The filing of the petition through Advocate Babar Awan coincided with Mr Sharif`s caravan which started from Islamabad on WednesdayandwouldreachLahore via Grand Trunk (GT) Road in a couple of days.

The decision to proceed to Lahorewhile holding public meetings on the way is said to be a bid to show the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz`s reaction to the Supreme Court`s verdict and put pressure on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which is preparing to file references against the Sharifs in the light of the probe conducted by the Joint Investigation Team appointed by the apex court in the Panama Papers case.

The PTI filed the petition under Section 5 of the Political Parties Order(PPO)2002 andimpressedon the ECP that Mr Sharif had been disqualified from holding any position in any political party, including the PML-N.

The opposition has been decrying Mr Sharif`s continued role in the PML-N after his disqualification.

According to the petition, the political party carrying Mr Nawaz`s name should be banned and nominations made by him for the post of prime minister and the cabinet should be declared illegal.

PTI chief Imran Khan termed Mr Sharif`s plan to proceed to Lahore via GT Road to addæss public gatherings at diffeænt stations a bid to put pressure on the Supæme Court and NAB against his removal and in æspect of the cases to be tried in accountability courts.

The PTI leader accused the ousted prime minister of using taxpayers` money to meet his agenda of maligning judiciary and NAB by travelling by road to Lahore.

`A convict who is facing NAB cases is going to Lahore on government`s expense,` he regrette d The PTI`s petition, whichwas prepared by Mr Awan on the advice of Imran Khan, said: `Any person using the name of `Muslim League Nawaz` should be declared to be in conflict with the Constitution and the law.

On Tuesday, the ECP issued a notice to the PML-N for the appointment of a new partyleader, saying that under the PPO 2002, a disqualified lawmaker cannot hold any office in any political party.

After dropping its plan to field Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as its candidate in the NA-120 by-election against Dr Yasmeen Rashid, the ruling party is considering the names of former first lady Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and her daughter Maryam Nawaz as the PML-N`s candidates.

Nawaz Sharif won from this constituency in the 2013 elections and it has been lying vacant since July 28 when Mr Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court from holding any public office.