MULTAN: Shazia Abbas Khakhi, the widow of former PTI MPA Malik Ghulam Abbas Khakhi who died on Aug 14, announced to contest the PP-222 by-election.

The announcement was made in a gathering of notables of Khakhi group and elders of Khakhi family which was held at the ‘Dera’ of the deceased MPA at Jalalpur Khakhi. Khakhi died because of cardiac arrest before taking oath as member of the provincial assembly.

“Hopefully, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other leadership of the party will award the party ticket to me while keeping in view the services of my late husband for the party,” she told newsmen.

Nine other candidates have filed papers for the same seat. They are Muhammad Qasim, Mehdi Abbas Langah, Qasim Abbas Khan Langah, Malik Muhammad Asif Joya, Malik Lal Muhammad Joya, Malik Muhammad Bakhsh Lang, Muhammad Abbas, Rana Sohail Noon and Haji Akram.

Thursday was the last date to submit the nomination papers for the by-election.

TOBA TEK SINGH: The PML-N has awarded its ticket for PP-118 (Gojra) to district council chairperson Ms Fauzia Khalid Warraich, wife of PML-N MNA Khalid Javed Warraich who filed her nomination papers on Thursday.

The seat was vacated by MNA Khalid Javed Warraich who had simultaneously won PP-118 too.

Fauzia will have to resign from district council chairperson slot before the allotment of symbols. The PTI has retained its candidate Asad Zaman Cheema.

Ten other candidates who also filed their nomination papers included former MPA of Pakistan National Muslim League Bilal Asghar Warraich, his elder brother ex-MNA Amjad Ali Warraich, ex-MNA Farkanda Amjad Warraich (wife of Amjad Ali Warraich), ex MPA from PP 121 Amjad Ali Javed, Usman Cheema, Usman Bhalli, Asadullah, Fauzia Kausar, advocate Chaudhry Abbas Ali and Mansoor Ahmad Bhangoo. GUJRAT: Eight candidates filed papers for PP-27 (Pind Daden Khan-Jalalpur Sharif-Lilla-Khewra) of Jhelum. The seat was vacated by federal information minister and PTI stalwart Fawad Chaudhary.

The nomination papers were filed by Haji Nasir Lilla, Raja Shahnawaz, Tahir Asif Chaudhary, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Naveed Shahzad, Muhammad Fayaz Ashraf, Muhammad Ali Khan and Sikandar Hayat.

Though the parties are yet to announce their candidates, sources say Haji Nasir Lilla who was the runner-up on July 25 polls and lost with a very slim margin will again be the PML-N candidate whereas Raja Shah Nawaz, a former PTI ticket holder from this seat, is likely to get PTI ticket. SAHIWAL: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Samsam Bukhari submitted his nomination papers on Thursday for PP-201 by-poll, the seat vacated by MNA Rai Murtaza Iqbal.

PTI South Punjab President Rai Hasan Nawaz, MNA Rai Murtaza Iqbal, MPA Malik Nauman Langrial and PTI District President Rana Aftab Ahmed accompanied Mr Bukhari, a resident of Okara and caretaker of Karmanwali shrine there.

Besides Mr Bukhari, 13 others have submitted their papers for the seat, and they are: Naeem Akhter, Ghulam Sarwar, Syed Mir Razauddin, Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Iftikhar Bashir Cheema, Shafqat Ali Cheema, Tufail Jutt, Chaudhry Iqbal, Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal, Mubashir Ahmed, Nayar Farid Sampal, Daud al Qasim and Chaudhry Asif Mayo.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2018