TOBA TEK SINGH: In the National Assembly constituency NA-107 (Kamalia), PML-N ticket holder from the allied provincial assembly seat PP-123, Nazia Raheel Gujjar in backing Hyder Ali Kharl, an independent candidate, instead of the party nominee, Asadur Rehman Ramday.

According to observers of local politics, Ms Nazia decided to support Hyder Kharl, who is son of late Khalid Kharl, the former federal minister of the PPP, after refusal of PML-N candidates from NA-107 and PP-124 (Kamalia) -- Asadur Rehman Ramday and Pir Syed Qutab Ali Baba, respectively, to accept her in their panel.

They say Hyder, who is also first-cousin of former federal interior minister Sayed Faisal Saleh Hayat, was present in the latter’s meeting with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif at Shah Jewna, Jhang, when Faisal announced joining the party. They say Faisal had suggested to Shehbaz to give the PML-N ticket for NA-107 to Hyder, but the latter had refused saying it was not possible for the party to ignore Asadur Rehman Ramday.

The say that Ramday who is supporting an independent candidate, Shahid Iqbal Gujjar, in PP-123 instead of party ticket-holder Ms Nazia, argues that Shahid will join the PML-N soon after winning the seat.

Interestingly, Ms Nazia also justifies support for independent Hyder Kharl saying that after winning he will join the PML-N, they add.

PML-N ex-MNA backs PTI candidate

A disgruntled former woman MNA of PML-N,Ayesha Rajab Baloch, who was an independent candidate from NA-97 (Tandlianwala) on Friday announced withdrawing her candidature in favour of a PTI candidate Saadullah Baloch.

Ms Aysha, widow of late MNA Rajab Ali Baloch, had applied for a PML-N ticket from NA-97, but the party leadership gave the ticket to her late husband’s brother, former MNA Ali Gohar Baloch.

After denial of the PML-N ticket, she decided to continue her campaign as an independent candidate.

However, on Friday she announced that she was withdrawing her candidature in favour of a PTI candiadte from the constituency, Saadullah Baloch.

Political observers says that Ms Rajab’s decision will hit the PML-N candidate’s vote bank in the constituency.

Meanwhile, a former independent MPA Ahsan Fatyana, son of ex-MNA and PTI ticket holder from NA-107, Kamalia, Riaz Fatyana, who had applied for the PTI ticket from NA-97, is continuing his campaign despite the party leadership announcing support for Saadullah Baloch.

The PTI chairmanBarister Gohar Ahmad has nominated former provincial minister Rana Aftab Ahmadawar from Faisalabad’s PP-108 constituency.

BOOKED: PTI nominee from NA-106, Khalid Nawaz Sadhraij and his 10 unidentified supporters were booked for violation of ECP code for polls.

According to the FIR registered by Toba city police, complainant ASI Mer claimed that Sadhraij and others were openly carrying weapons in the main bazar.

It added that a police party reached there to arrest them but they managed to escape.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2024