SADIQABAD – With the upcoming general elections around the corner, the PML-N has named its candidates for NA-197, while the PPP and PML-Q have finalised the recommendations regarding granting of party tickets however, the PTI is also working in this regard.
The PML-N had decided to award party tickets to its former members of the National and provincial assemblies’ members therefore, Arshad Laghari and Azhar Laghari will contest the forthcoming general elections from the PML-N platform anew, said local party leaders.
With PML-N’s decision to award party tickets to the Lagharis, their supporters  and the party activists are very pleased, said Charagh Bhatti, Mian Shafiq, M Saleem, Amjad, Abdul Sattar, Tanveer, Ch Mehmood, Saeed Ahmad, Jabbar and others while talking to the party workers. They said that MNA Arshad Laghari completed development projects worth billions of rupees thereby strengthening the party and providing basic facilities at the people’s doorsteps. They added that the local PML-N leaders faced Pervez Musharraf’s government and made the party undefeatable in the district by working day and night. Thus, they added, the PML-N had become a strong political force in the district.
On the other hand, in line with the seat adjustment formula, the PPP and PML-Q have finalised recommendations regarding nomination of their candidates for National Assembly constituency NA-197 and Punjab Assembly constituencies PA-295, 296, and 297.
According to these recommendations, Syed Murtaza Mehmood will be PPP candidate for NA-197 while, the candidate for PA-295 will be decided after consultation with Punjab Governor Ahmad Mehmood. However, for PA-296, PML-Q’s Dr Taloot Saleem will be joint candidate of the Q and the PPP whilst MPA Ibraheem Khalil will be PPP’s candidate for PA-297 again. PML-Q leadership has sought the PPP’s support for its candidate in PA-296. On the other side, the PPP’s Central Parliamentary Board is considering on the final recommendations regarding granting of party tickets. However, the PPP tickets in Rahim Yar Khan would be granted in consultation with the Punjab governor.
Likewise, Rafiq Haidar Laghari, former Punjab minister for food, has applied for the PTI ticket to contest an election from the NA-197 constituency. With his decision, former nazima, naib nazims and other local dignitaries met with the PTI ticket aspirant and assured the latter of their full cooperation. Talking to the delegations, Haidar Laghari said that the PTI’s parliamentary board would make a decision in this regard soon and after the announcement electioneering would be started. He claimed that during his tenure, he carried out various projects in Sadiqabad city and its adjoining areas providing the people with electricity, education, health, potable water and other facilities.