SAHIWAL: Around 48 and 100 candidates have submitted nomination papers for three national and seven provincial assembly seats, respectively, in the district, for the upcoming general elections, till the last date for submission of nomination papers on Sunday.

District Complex witnesses a rush of political workers and supporters of different parties who were chanting slogans and carrying flags of their favourite parties.

Most of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) aspirants submitted their nomination papers as independent candidates from all national and provincial assembly constituencies.

Prominent aspirants who submitted their papers for NA-141 include Pir Imran Shah, Chaudhry Muhammad Zaki (PPP), Rana Amir Shahzad (independent), Mian Rahmat Ullah Watto (JI), Chaudhry Umer Ishaq, Anjum Sageer (independents), Shahid Ali Chohan, Haroon Khagga, Anwar ul Haq Rammay and Muhammad Naeem Asif.

Ms Ayesha Lodhi, Chaudhry Muhammad Asif, Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Ghulam Farid Kathiya and Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, (PML-N) submitted their paper for NA-142.

Chaudhry Muhammad Tufail Jutt, Chaudhry Zahid Iqbal, Rai Hasan Nawaz, Rai Murtaza Iqbal, retired Maj Sarwar, Nouman Langriyal (IPP) submitted papers for NA-143.

Similarly, Malik Arshad, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Sarmad Shafqat, Jalal Dhakko, Naveed Aslem Lodhi, Sajid Chohan, Rana Riaz Ahmed Khan, Baber Sagheer Anjum, Khaizer Shah Khagga, Ajam Shah Khagga, Walayat Shah Khagga and Ali Raza Fityana, submitted their nomination papers for PP-198, PP-199, PP-200, PP-201, PP-202, PP-203 and PP-204.

Ch Zahid Iqbal, former district nazim, submitted his nomination papers from NA 142, NA-143 and PP-203, simultaneously.

In the same manner, Shahzad Saeed Cheema, submitted his papers for PP-202, NA-142 and NA-143.Many PTI candidates like those from Rai family of Chichawatni and Chohan family of Sahiwal have submitted nomination papers as independent candidates. Rai Hasan Nawaz and Rai Murtaza Iqbal, both ex-MNAs of the PTI, were granted custodial bail by an anti-corruption court till January 10, three days back.

Mr Uzman, the Returning Officer for PP-199, said all aspirants submitted their papers in a peaceful manner.

RAIDS: Police conducted raids at different places in Sahiwal, Chichawati and Harrapa to arrest PTI aspirants and workers, but none of them could be arrested. Police claimed that those wanted were not found at their residential places.

Sources say the PTI leaders and workers whose houses were raided include Rana Aftab (district president), Chaudhry Muhammad Asif (NA-142 candidate), Mian Muhammad Yar Damra, (leader from Harrapa), Mian Sajad, (activist from 76/5-L village) and Shakeel Khan Niazi (central Punjab vice president). However, none of them could be arrested.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2023