FAISALABAD, Aug 17: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan is scheduled to address the NA-83 constituency of the city on Monday (tomorrow) to gather support of its voters.

Considering this urban constituency a stronghold of the party, Imran aims at addressing a public gathering here to seek votes for his party candidate for the upcoming by-election.

To counter the PTI strategy, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has invited MNA Hamza Shahbaz to visit Faisalabad on Tuesday. Both leaders will address gatherings at D Ground.

Elections in this constituency had been postponed on May 7 due to the demise of an independent candidate, Muhammad Amjad Rabbani, who had suffered a cardiac arrest. Polling for the by-election is scheduled for Aug 22.

The PML-N had won both provincial constituencies here -- PP-67 with Faqir Husain and PP-68 with Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed -- in the general election. However, PTI candidates Mahboob Alam Rasheed and Latif Nazar for both these constituencies had contested efficiently as compared to PPP candidates.

Talking to Dawn, Latif Nazar alleged the PML-N had rigged the last elections in PP-68 and this time its workers would repeat the same practice because they were enjoying government in Punjab as well as the Centre.

He alleged a number of stamped ballot papers had been found from Dhudi Wala, a locality of PP-68, and the Election Commission had also been informed, but to no avail.

He said a request had been forwarded to the ECP for deployment of military.

“People want to listen to and see Imran that will ultimately motivate the voters,” he claimed.

Both the PML-N and the PTI are making all-out efforts to attract a maximum crowd for their addresses. They have put up banners and billboards informing voters about the arrival of their leaders.

City PML-N Secretary-General Shahid Baig said Hamza’s address would decide the fate of the constituency. He said the PML-N did not fear Imran’s arrival. He said after the success of the PML-N in two allied constituencies of NA-83, scores of PTI workers had joined the PML-N.

However, the PPP is nowhere in sight, while it has fielded former city nazim Mumtaz Ali Cheema, elder brother of a former textile minister.

City PPP President Rana Mushtaq told Dawn that no PPP leader was due in Faisalabad to address NA-83 voters. He said efforts were being made to get a party incumbent to address the public as they wanted to listen to PPP leaders.

He said a request had been sent to the Election Commission for deployment of army at polling stations fearing rigging by the PML-N. He said so far they had received no response from the ECP.

PPP candidate Cheema said party workers were united and would not allow anyone to rig the elections. He also demanded the ECP deploy army at the polling stations.