RAWALPINDI The garrison town known for its power play in politics is all set to be in the limelight as it gears up again to choose a new parliamentarian — this time after a scandalous exit by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Haji Pervez Khan.
All mainstream parties have started to flex their muscles to run in the by-election in Rawalpindi's NA-55 constituency scheduled for July 4.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is expected to announce a special development package for the city in an attempt to prepare ground for its would-be candidate, Amir Fida Paracha.
Dawn has learnt that the PPP central leadership is taking keen interest in the fight for NA-55 seat.
On Tuesday, MNA Faryal Talpur invited PPP's Rawalpindi city office-bearers, including Paracha, to her residence in Islamabad and discussed the situation in detail.
Sources said the party decided to jump in after a split in PML-N's local chapter over the resignation of Haji Pervez Khan. Senior PML-N leaders are believed to be unhappy at the manner in which their party Quaid, Nawaz Sharif dealt with the issue.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is currently consulting whether to nominate Siddiqul Farooq or Chaudhry Tanveer as its candidate.
However, the former is likely to be the unanimous choice as the other one is not so popular in the city area.
Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rashid has also called a grand public meeting on Friday in which he would announce his decision to contest the election in NA-55 — a constituency he earlier swept five times.
Sources told Dawn that President Asif Ali Zardari has also directed PPP Rawalpindi city president Amir Fida Paracha to speed up his election campaign.
'Everyone has the right to contest election in a democratic environment,' Paracha said.
'The common objective is to facilitate the residents of Rawalpindi city who are reeling under many problems.'
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