PTI polls: Waleed Iqbal to run for Lahore president

Says he is being backed by ‘like-minded’ leaders

LAHORE:

Waleed Iqbal has announced his candidature for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Lahore president’s slot as the race for PTI intra-party election heats up.

The announcement comes a week after provincial-level presidential candidates were announced by two groups in the PTI - one backed by Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the second by Jahangir Tareen.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal said that he was backed by “like-minded leaders” of the political party.

However, he did not disclose which group backed him.

“It will be a violation of the party’s code of conduct for the elections,” he said.

Party sources, however, said that Iqbal was being backed by the Nazriati Group.

“He will be contesting against any candidate fielded by Tareen’s Unity Group for Lahore,” sources said.

Iqbal had been among the seven candidates considered by the group for Punjab president. Shafqat Mahmood was selected to run for the office.

Even though the PTI election commission has warned candidates against forming panels and groups, the Qureshi and Hamid Khan-backed Nazriati Group has solidified after nominating Shafqat Mahmood as their candidate for the Punjab president’s slot. On the other hand, Tareen and Aleem Khan’s Unity Group is supporting Chaudhry Sarwar.

Leaders from both camps usually refrain from identifying their affiliations with specific groups fearing action by the party’s election commission.

Iqbal’s candidature was announced at a press conference by Dr Murad Raas. Iqbal has also been endorsed by Shafqat Mahmood. Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed has also communicated Iqbal his support. Talks are also underway for enlisting the support of former PTI president Ejaz Chaudhry.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2016.