SIALKOT - Under the seat adjustment formula, the PPP has decided to support the PML-Q candidates as joint ones in three National Assembly constituencies here while in the remaining two NA constituencies in the district, the latter’s candidates will be supported by the former.
The PPP has pledge its full support for the Q candidates with a hope that the joint candidates would give hard times to the PML-N in the fast approaching 2013 general elections here. However, for the two seats, PPP’s Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan will contest against PML-N’s Ch Armughan Subhani and will be supported by the PML-Q in NA 111 Bajwat, Sialkot-II. In 2008 general elections, Dr Awan had knocked out PML-Q’s Chaudhry Ameer Husain and PML-N’s Idrees Ahmed Bajwa in this constituency.
However, the PPP Punjab leadership has put the party ticket for constituency NA-110 Sialkot City-I on the disposal of Dr Firdous, saying that she could contest also from this constituency if she likes or she would be able to field a strong candidate of her mind in constituency.
In constituency NA-112 Sambrial, Sialkot-III, the PPP has assured its full support to PML-Q’s candidate Muhammad Saleem Baryar, an exporter-turned-politician and President of PML-Q Sialkot district. He is the elder brother of former MPA Ch Ansar Iqbal Baryar who won the 2002 general elections on PML-Q ticket and lost 2008 general elections and later the by-poll in December 2012 in PP 129 Daska, Sialkot-IX.
PPP’s candidate Ch Ejaz Ahmed Cheema, general secretary of PPP Sialkot district, will soon withdraw his nomination papers in favour of PML-Q candidate Muhammad Saleem Baryar. In 2008 general elections, the PML-N’s Rana Abdul Sattar knocked out PML-Q’s President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain with more than 50,000 votes in constituency NA 112.
Likewise in NA 113 Daska, Sialkot-IV, the PPP has announced its full support to PML-Q’s candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, the former state minister, as the PPP’s candidate Dr. Zaheerul Hassan Rizvi will soon withdraw his nomination papers in favour of PML-Q’s Ali Asjad Malhi. In 2008 general elections, the PML-N’s candidate Sahibzada Syed Murtaza Ameen defeated PML-Q’s Ali Asjad Malhi and PPP’s Dr Zaheerul Hassan Rizvi in this constituency.
In NA 114 Pasrur, Sialkot-V, PPP has announced its full support to PML-Q’s candidate Ch Maqsud Ahmed Sulehriya, announcing the withdrawal of PPP’s candidate Ch Ghulam Abbas, former provincial minister, in favour of PML-Q’s candidate. Ch Maqsud Ahmed Sulehriya, former Tehsil Nazim of Pasrur, is contesting a National Assembly election first time. In 2008 general elections, the PML-N’s candidate Zahid Hamid defeated PML-Q’s Ch Abdul Sattar Variyo, former federal minister and head of Variyo family of Sialkot, and PPP’s candidate Ch Ghulam Abbas, former provincial minister, in this constituency.
The PPP has also given four seats of provincial assembly to PML-Q out of total eleven seats in Sialkot district. The PPP will support PML-Q’s candidates Bilal Mustafa Sherazi in PP 127 Pasrur, Bao Muhammad Rizwan former MPA of PML-Q in constituency PP 128 Satrah, Asad Hafeez Goraya, former UC Nazim, in PP 129 Daska, and Ch Azeem Noori Ghuman in PP 131 Sambrial.
Commenting over these seat adjustments of PPP with its allied PML-Q, Dr. Firdous said that the seat adjustment was made purely on merit and was vital to give hard times to the PML-N in Sialkot district. She said that this seat adjustment was also an ample proof that the PPP had not left its allies alone in the race.