MULTAN - Despite the fact that much of public’s attention is focused on Prime Minister’s appearance in the supreme court, the electioneering is picking up in Multan as the prospective candidates have started submitting their nomination papers for two national assembly seats NA-148 and NA-149. The Election Commission of Pakistan has fixed February 20 for by polls while two days-January 19 & 20-are given for submission of nomination papers.
The NA-148 seat got vacated because of resignation of Shah Mahmood Qureshi and NA-149 due to Javed Hashmi. Once rivals, both the leaders have quit their parties and joined the same platform, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf. Earlier, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was elected MNA on PPP ticket from NA-148 after defeating Makhdoom Javed Hashmi while Hashmi won NA-149 seat on PML-N ticket by defeating Salah Uddin Dogar of PPP.
According to details, at least eight candidates deposited their nomination papers for NA-149 on the first day. Out of total, at least five candidates belonged the same party PML-N. They include former senator Malik Rafiq Rajwana, Sheikh Tariq Rasheed, Bilal Butt, Munawar Ehsan Qureshi and Arshad Boota. Similarly, Sardar Safdar Khan Baloch of JUI and two independent candidates Prof. Lajpal and Umar Farooq Bhatti have also submitted their papers. However, no candidate from PPP has so far surfaced.
On the other hand, the president of PML-N Multan city Rana Shahidul Hassan, who is also younger brother of MNA Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, has deposited his nomination papers for NA-148. The son of Prime Minister Ali Moosa Gillani is also a serious contender for this seat and it is learnt that he will submit papers on Friday (today).
Admin asked to extend cooperation get support: Preparations for upcoming Difa-e-Pakistan Conference are in full swing as the organisers of the moot Difa-e-Pakistan Council and Ahle Sunnat Waljamat Pakistan held a joint meeting here on Tuesday. The proceedings were jointly chaired by Engr Ashfaq Ahmad and Rao Javed Iqbal while Dr Khadim Hussain Dhillon was the special guest on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dhillon said that the central leadership of Difa-e-Pakistan Council expressed complete confidence in Ahle Sunnat Waljamat Pakistan and chosen it as the host of upcoming conference on January 29. He said that the workers of Ahle Sunnat Waljamat Pakistan were working day and night to make the event successful. He lamented that the workers complained against the administration of some districts. “Some black sheep and anti-Pakistan elements are harassing our workers.
Those creating hurdles in way of conference are enemies of the country and its defence,” he maintained. He said that despite being subjected to harassment, the workers of his party would continue preparations for the conference and start coming to Sports Ground on 29th. He categorically declared that no other venue that Sports Ground would be accepted for the conference. “We’ll hold conference at Sports Ground whatsoever. I advise district administration to extend cooperation and get cooperation.”