TOBA TEK SINGH: Several old political families have been awarded tickets by political parties.

In Gojra, the PML-N has granted a ticket for NA-105 to former MNA Khalid Javed Warraich, while his son Uqba Ali Warraich has also been nominated as a PML-N candidate for PP-119.

In Kamalia, former MNA Riaz Fatyana and his wife, former provincial minister Ashfa Fatyana, have been given PTI tickets for NA-107 and PP-123. In Jhang, former federal interior minister Faisal Saleh Hayat has been given a ticket by the PML-N for NA-108 and PP-127.

In Khanewal, the PML-N has awarded ticket for NA-144 to former provincial minister Pir Mukhtar Hussain and his son Pir Syed Murtaza Hussain for PP-205. Also in Khanewal, brothers Chaudhry Iftikhar, Chaudhry Ziaur Rehman, and Chaudhry Attaur Rehman have been awarded tickets for NA-147, PP-209, and PP-210.

The PPP has given tickets to brothers Rana Abdul Rehman and Rana Irfan Mahmood for NA-145 and PP-212.

DIFFERENCES: Differences have emerged in the ranks of the PML-N after tickets were announced in Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh districts.

In Faisalabad, former MNA Ali Gohar Baloch has been given a PML-N ticket for Tandlianwala NA-97. However, his sister-in-law, former 2018-2023 MNA from the same constituency Ayesha Rajab Baloch (wife of late MNA Rajab Ali Baloch, elder brother of Gohar Baloch), has announced contesting as an independent candidate against her Ali Gohar.

She claimed that her late husband and she had struggled wholeheartedly for the party throughout their lives. In Kamalia, former federal minister Chaudry Asadur Rehman Ramday has been given a ticket by his party for NA-107.

The party has awarded the ticket to former MPA Nazia Raheel Gujjar for PP-123. Mr Ramday applied ticket for the same constituency for Shahid Iqbal Gujjar. There are reports that he will take Mr Gujjar as his group candidate instead of supporting Ms Gujjar.

Similarly, in Gojra, although the PML-N awarded tickets of NA 105 and PP-119 to Khalid Javed Warraich and his son Uqba Ali Warraich, he was also demanding a ticket for his wife Fouzia Warriach for PP-120. After his demand was not accepted by the party, and the ticket was awarded to former MPA Abdul Qadeer Awan, he announced that his wifewould contest as an independent candidate for PP-120.

Former PTI MNA from Jhang NA-109, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, has announced not to contest election as a PTI candidate. She said that under the existing situation, she cannot face the pressure of the establishment, so she will contest as an independent candidate.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2024