BAHAWALPUR: A last-minute telephone call from PML-N president and ex-chief minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday averted the [possible] change of loyalty of former PML-N MNA Pir Iqbal Shah of Lodhran.

Dawn learnt that the PML-N leadership had ditched Pir Iqbal Shah and his son Aamir Shah over the party ticket to contest from NA-161, Lodhran. Pir Iqbal Shah, whom Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif had embraced after he (Iqbal) defeated Ali Tareen, son of PTI’s Jahangir Tareen, in the by-election a few months back, was denied PML-N ticket to contest from Lodhran.

Dismayed over PML-N leaders’ ‘unwarranted’ attitude to ignore Iqbal Shah in award of party ticket, Iqbal Shah and his son advanced their contacts with Jahangir Tareen. On the other hand, Ali Tareen has already expressed his inability to contest election owing to his studies at Oxford. Resultantly, the PTI leadership welcomed Pir Iqbal, who along with his son Aamir Shah decided to join PTI for which they were ready on [Wednesday] to address a press conference along with Jahangir Tareen in Lodhran. But, due to sudden demise of the father-in-law of Ali Tareen, the press conference could not be held.

Pir Iqbal Shah who defeated Ali Tareen was assured of ticket

Taking advantage of the delay in the presser, the PMl-N leadership sprang into action and Shahbaz Sharif telephoned Abdul Rehman Kanju in Lodhran to approach Pir Iqbal and his son and assure them of party ticket.

Abdul Rehman rushed to the residence of Iqbal Shah and held out assurance to him that the PML-N high command was ready to allot him ticket for NA-161.

SAMIULLAH: Ex-MPA (PML-N) Samiullah Chaudhry, a former vice president of merged Janoobi Punjab Sooba Mahaz with PTI, has denied that he is one of the activists of the proposed grand electoral alliance, the move floated by Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi.

In his statement here on Wednesday, Samiullah Chaudhry said presently he was within the fold of PTI, which stood for the stance of Janoobi Punjab Sooba.

He said the propaganda was launched merely to defame him and tarnish the image of the PTI. He said after the election, Janoobi Punjab Sooba would be carved out with its headquarters in Bahawalpur.

He said he was one of the aspirants for the PTI ticket to contest from NA-170 (Bahawalpur-city). If he was granted ticket, he would take along with him all supporters of PTI. He said he would support any PTI nominee.

Former federal minister Farooq Azam Malik, an aspirant for the PTI ticket from NA-170, has also distanced himself from any such alliance.

It merits mentioning that former hockey flying horse Samiullah Khan, who is also one of the aspirants for PTI from Bahawalpur city, has expressed his interest to join the grand electoral alliance in the interest of the area.

SCRUTINY: As many as 193 candidates, who filed their nomination papers by Monday and are being scrutinised, will contest for five national assembly and 10 provincial assembly seats from Bahawalpur district.

According to liaison officer Intikhab Alam (senior civil judge, administration) of district returning officer (DRO) Bahawalpur Chaudhury Tariq Javed, 59 candidates filed their nomination papers for five national assembly seats while remaining 134 candidates will contest for 10 seats of Punjab Assembly.

The scrutiny of nomination papers will continue till June 19 with two Eid holidays.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2018