MUZAFFARGARH: PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held a meeting in Lahore with disgruntled leaders who had failed to secure tickets in NA-181 and NA-182 (Layyah).

Simultaneously, the matters concerning PP-281 and PP-282 were resolved through discussions with dissatisfied leaders of the PML-N.

Following their meeting with Mr Sharif, the previously angry PML-N candidates emerged as strong contenders.

Sahibzada Mehboobul Hasan Swag, Malik Riaz Gurwan, Safdar Iqbal Dhol, and Abid Anwar Alvi withdrew from the election and retracted their nomination papers after engaging with the PML-N senior leadership in Lahore.

As a result of this development, Hasan Swag pledged support to his uncle Sahibzada Faizul Hasan Swag in the upcoming election scheduled for Feb 8.

Hasan Swag is slated to assume a significant role in the local government elections. It was assured that he would be entitled to a ticket from the PML-N in the subsequent election due to not securing a share in the municipalities.

Meanwhile, Malik Riaz Garwan and Safdar Iqbal Dhol have also pledged their support to the Randhawa community in the forthcoming election.

Malik Riaz Gurwan has sought time to consult with friends. Other candidate Abid Anwar Alvi will support Syed Saqlain Shah Bukhari in NA-182 and Rafaqat Ali Gillani in PP-282. Syed Saqlain Shah Bukhari and Abid Anwar Alvi will also seek the support of the remaining four members of the five-member coalition, including Seth Aslam, Chaudhry Ashfaq, Muzaffar Dhool, and Tufail Lohanch.

In a meeting with Shehbaz Sharif, Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, appointed as the head, is set to visit Layyah in a couple of days and address the issues according to the instructions of the ex-PM.

Despite initial concerns and divisions among the people of the area when dozens of candidates submitted nomination papers for PML-N tickets, the party leadership successfully resolved the issues.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Amber Majeed Niazi, the wife of ex-MNA Abdul Majeed Niazi, also emerged as a strong contender in the elections.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2024