Old guards again in the run
FAISALABAD, Nov 26: Candidates fielded by different political parties thronged the offices of returning officers on Monday to submit their nomination papers for the Jan 8 general elections.
Most of the aspirants came to submit their nomination papers amid clapping, hoisting party flags and high-pitched sloganeering.
Faisalabad comprising on eight towns — four urban and as many rural — has 11 seats of national and 22 of provincial assemblies.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and both Pakistan Muslim Leagues (PML) – PML-Nawaz (PMLN) and PML-Quaid (PMLQ) — fielded old candidates except for a few.
The prominent figures those submitted their nomination papers for National Assembly (NA) seats included: former federal ministers Mushtaq Ali Cheema (PMLQ) and Wasi Zafar, former MNAs Ghulam Rasool Sahi (PMLQ), Rajab Ali Baloch(PMLQ), Asim Nazir (PMLQ), Mian Manan (PML-N), Dr Nisar Ahmed (PMLQ), Asif Touseef (PMLQ), Raja Nadir Pervez(PMLN), Safdar Shakir(PMLQ), Fazal Karim(PML-N), Haji Akram Ansari(PML-N), Mehr Rasheed(PPP), Abid Sher Ali(PMLN), Zahid Nazir, Rana Farooq Saeed(PPP), Nawab Sher Waseer (PPP), Ijaz Virk (PPP), Rana Zahid Mehmood(PMLQ), Bilal Noor Ansari (PMLQ) and Shakeel Ansari(PPP).
Candidates vying for Punjab Assembly seats are: Afzal Sahi (PMLQ), Chaudhry Zaheeruddin (PMLQ),Dr Mohammad Shafiq (PMLQ), Dildar Ahmed Cheema (PMLQ), former MPAs Rana Sanaullah (PML-N), Rana Aftab Ahmed (PPP), Raja Riaz Ahmed (PPP), Dr Asad Moazzam (PPP), Riaz Shahid (PPP), Faizullah Kamoka (PPP), Khalid Watto (PMLQ), Shahid Khalil Noor (PMLQ), Khalid Nabi (PMLQ), Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed(PML-N), Malik Muhammad Nawaz(PML-N), Asghar Ali Qaiser (PPP), Liaqat Ali Nazar (PPP)and Shujaullah Khan (PPP).
LAYYAH: Fourteen candidates filed their nomination papers for two NA seats and 38 for five provincial assembly seats. Those who submitted their papers are:
PMLN’s Sahibzada Faizul Hassan, PMLQ’s Bahadar Ahmed Khan Sehar and Abdul Rasheed Samtiah will challenge each other from NA-181. Malik Niaz Jhakhar of the PMLQ, Syed Saqlain Bokhari of the PMLN, Dr Faqeer Hussain of the PPP, Chaudhry
Asghar Ali Ghujar of the MMA filed their paper for NA-182.
For Provincial Assembly seats, Chaudhry Altaf Hussain, Malik Ahmed Ali Olhak of the PMLN, Chaudhry Niaz Ahmed Gujar of the PPP, Safdar Abass Bhatti of the PPP, Malik Allah Buksh Samtiya of the PMLQ, PMLQ’s Shahabudin Sehar, PPP’s Rasheed Ahmed Bodla, PMLN’s Mahr Ejaz Echlana, PMLQ’s Malik Noor Nabi Jhakar, PPP’s Sardar Sibtul Hassan Tangwani, PMLN’s Malik Abdul Shakoor Sewag, Razia Bagum, MMA’s Chaudhry Asghar Ali Gujjar filed their nomination papers.
The PMLQ has denied party ticket to former MPA Fazal Hussain Sumra and may award ticket to Razia Bagum, daughter of District Nazim Malik Ghulam Haider Thind.
BAHAWALPUR: Among those who filed their papers for NA constituencies were: Mian Najeebud Din Abbasi (PPP), Munawar Abbasi (PMLN), Sahibzada Farooq Anwar Abbasi (PMLQ), Farooq Azam Malik (PPP) and Munawar Hayat Abbasi (PMLN), Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada (PMLQ), Nawazish Ali Peerzada (PPP).
For PA seats, those who filed their papers are: Ijaz Safdar (PMLQ), Malik Iqbal Channar (PMLN), Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar (MMA), Safdar Shehbaz Rajput, Syed Tabish Alwari (PML), Rao Tariq Mahmood(PPP) and Syed Irfan Gardezi (PML).
SARGODHA: PMLN’s hopeful Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana and PMLQ’s nominee Mian Mazhar Ahmad Qureshi will challenge each other from NA-68. From NA-64, PMLQ fielded Haroon Ehsan Piracha, while PMLN’s Pir Farooq Bahaul Haq will be there to face him. From NA-65, PMLQ’s Chaudhry Ghias Ahmad Mela, PMLN’s Chaudhry Nazeer Ahmad Ranjha and PPP’s Mehr Khaliq Yar Lak are in the run. From NA-66, PPP’s Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi and PMLN’s Pir Mushtaq Shah filed their papers; from NA-67, PMLQ Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, PPP’s Dr Zulfikar Ali Bhatti and PMLN’s Barrister Mohsin Ranjha are among the prominent candidates; from PP-31, Mian Manazir Ali Ranjha (PMLQ), Mian Mazhar Ahmad Ranjha (PMLN), Chaudhry Awais Midhiana (PPP) are in the run; from PP-30, Chaudhry Tahir Sindhu (PMLQ), Chaudhry Faisal Ahmad Ranjha (PMLN) filed their papers; from PP-32, Chaudhry Aamer Sultan Cheema (PMLQ), Barrister Mohsin Ranjha (PMLN) and Hamid Nawaz Awan (PPP) made to the candidatures; from PP-33, Afzaal Mirza (PPP), Chaudhry Abdul Razzaq Dhilon (PMLN), and Sajida Malik (PMLQ) filed their papers; from PP-34, Chaudhry Abdul Razaq Dhilon (PMLN) and Dr Nadia Aziz (PPP) filed their papers; from PP-35, Faisal Farooq Cheema (PMLQ) and Sardar Akmal Shameel (PPP) filed their papers; from PP-36, Chaudhry Faisal Javed Ghuman (PMLQ) and Rana Munawar Gous (PPP) filed their papers; from PP-37, Major (retd) Asghar Hayat Kalyar (PMLQ); and from PP-38, Mian Muneer Ahmad Qureshi (PMLQ), and Sardar Shafqat Hayat Khan (PMLN) filed their papers.
TOBA TEK SINGH: From NA-92, Hamza (PMLN), Chaudhry Amjad Warraich (PMLQ), Saifullah Cheema (PPP), Khalid Bashir filed their paper; from NA-93, Farhan Latif (PMLQ), Farooq Tariq, Kashif Ashfaq (PMLQ) and Hafizullah Ishaq (PPP); from NA-94, PPP’s Khalid Ahmad Kharal, Riaz Fatyana and his wife Begum Ashfa Riaz (both from the PMLQ) and Chaudhry Asadur Rehman (PMLN) filed their papers.
VEHARI: For four NA seats, PMLQ has fielded Nazir Ahmad Jatt (NA-167), Syed Sajid Shah for NA-168), Aftab Khichi for NA-169 and Orangzaib Khichi for NA 170. For provincial assembly seats, majority of former MPAs were awarded PMLQ tickets. The PPP, PML-N and MMA, did not finalise their candidates. Former state minister Ishaq Khakwani could not make to PMLQ’s candidate list because of dissenting voice against Gen Pervez Musharraf. Saeed Manais, PPP’s Mehmood Hayat Tochi Khan, Azher Yousaf Zai and Orangzaib Khichi filed their nomination papers from NA-170.
MIANWALI: For NA-71, PMLQ’s Amanatullah Khan Shadikhel and three other independent candidates, for PP-43 PMLQ’s Amanatullah Sahdikhel and Nawabzada Abdul Rehman Khan, and for PP-44 Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri and Saleemullah Khan Paikhel filed their papers.
For NA-72, and PP-45 and 46, Humair Hayat Khan Rokhri (independent),
Dr Sher Afghan Khan (PMLQ) and Inamullah Khan (PMLN), Malik Mumtaz Bhacher and Sardar Sibtain Khan (PMLQ) filed their papers.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan announced boycott of the elections.
SAHIWAL: Nomination papers for four NA and seven PP seats were filed.
Among the prominent candidates include: Chaudhry Nauraiz Shakoor, Mian Anwarul Haq Ramay, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, Rana Tariq Javed, Hassan Murtaza Sherazi, Mehr Ghulam Farid Kathiya, Rai Azizullah, Muhammad Khalid Rana, Syed Ahmed Chaudhry, Begum Shahnaz Javed, Mansha Sipra, Malik Muhammad Yar Dhakoo, Pir Walayat Shah Khagga, Rana Aftab Ahmed, Malik Nadeem Kamran, Zafar Iqbal, Amjad Hussain Bukhari, Hassan Murtaza Sherazi, Rana Tanveer Ahmed, Mazhar Dadra, Sadiq Attiq, Waheed Asghar Dogar, Rana Riaz Ahmed, Shahzad Cheema, Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad and Malak Talib Hussain Langrial.
OKARA: PMLN’s Mian Yawar Zaman filed his papers for NA-144 and PP-191; Mian Muhammad Munir (PMLN) for PP-190.
GUJRANWALA: For NA-95, Aman Ullah Chaudhry, PMLN’s Barrister Usman Ibrahim, PPP’s Zeeshan Chaudhry and MMA’s Qazi Hamid Ullah filed their papers; for NA-96, PMLQ’s Imtiaz Bhutta, PMLN’s Khuram Dastagir; for NA-97, PMLQ’s Shahid Akram Bhinder, PMLN’s Mahmood Bashir Virk, PPP’s Dr Zafer Chaudhry; for NA-98, PMLQ’s Rana Shamshad Ahmed Khan and PPP’s Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warraich; for NA-99, Rana Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Rana Umer Nazir and Chaudhry Abdullah Virk; for NA-100, PMLQ’s Rana Bilal Ijaz and PPP’s Tariq Yaqoob; for NA-101, PMLQ’s Hamid Nasir Chattha, PPP Asima Shah Nawaz and PMLN’s Shaukat Hayat Chattha; for PP-91, PPP’s Faisal Rauf, PMLQ’s Shehzad Hafiz and PMLN’s Imran Khalid Butt; from PP-92, PPP’s Lala Shakilur Rehman and PMLQ’s Asif Iqbal; for PP-93, PPP’s Tariq Gujjar, MMA’s Adris Ayub; PP-94, PP’s Tariq Ali and PMLQ’s Waqar Hassan; for PP-95, PPP’s Saud Dorr and PMLQ’s Muhammad Ali Mubashar Ahmed Cheema; for PP-96, PPP’s Shabbir Mehar and PMLQ’s Ashraf Butt; for PP-97, PPP’s Fazal Abbas Cheema; PMLQ’s Nasir Cheema; for PP-98, PPP’s Arqum Khan and PMLQ’s Muhammad Iqbal; for PP-99, PPP’s Nasir Sindhu and PMLQ’s Sohail Zafar Cheema; for PP-100, PPP’s Abdullah Virk; for PP-102, PMLQ, Raffaqat Gujjar; PP-103, Hamid Nasir Chatha, and for PP-104, Akmal Saif Chatha and Shaukat Hayat Chatha filed their papers.
SADIQABAD: PPP’s Rais Mehboob Ahmed Khan filed his papers for NA-197 and PMLQ’s Rais Muneer Ahmed Khan will face him in the poll. For PP-29, contestants are: Rana Tariq Mehmood, Dr Muneer Ahmed (PPP) and Shaukat Daud (PMLQ); for PP-297, Arslan Leghari (PMLQ), Azhar Leghari and Sheikh Aziz Aslam (PPP); and for PP-295, aspirants are Nabeel Dahir (PPP), Rana Ihsan.