Elahi backs Rashid for two Pindi electoral bouts

Former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi announced to contest the upcoming elections for three National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats, warning that the country would suffer if the elections were not held transparently.

Speaking to the media persons during his court appearance, Elahi lent his full support for the Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rashid, saying that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan should be convinced to support the candidature of Rashid, an ally of the PTI

Elahi, who is in the Adiala Jail in a case pertaining to the Islamabad Judicial Complex, protest and vandalism earlier this year, appeared before Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain. During the hearing, he told the judge that he suffered a fall and requested the court for his medical tests.

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The Judge told Elahi to submit his request on Friday (today) when he [the judge] visit the jail. Later the hearing of the case was adjourned till February 15. Later, Elahi spoke informally with the media persons, covering his case’s proceedings.

He said that he was participating in the February 8 election from three national and three provincial assembly constituencies. Responding to a question, he said that he had old relationship with Shiekh Rashid, and it would be his effort that the AML chief won the elections from NA 56 and 57.

Separately, talking to the media persons at the Judicial Complex, Rashid thanked Elahi for his support and expressed the hope that the PTI would not field any candidate against him in the constituencies of NA 56 and 57, Rawalpindi.

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Rashid said that he rendered sacrifices for the PTI and its founder and never gave any statement against them. “I am with the PTI. The PTI and the Awami Muslim League have been together since the beginning. I will win the elections from both these constituencies,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran announced on Thursday that she and her sister in-law, Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi, were not going to contest the February 8 general elections, rather they were focused on fighting his cases.

Talking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Khan also criticised the PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif. “I will only fight my brother's case, I will not contest the election,” Khan said in response to a question. But when asked again if her other sisters or even Bushra Bibi would contest the election, she replied: “None of us is contesting the election. We come only for PTI founder’s cases.”