SARGODHA: Regarding the PP 34 by-polls, political activity is on its peak prior to the pending by-election in the constituency.
One of the contenders for the constituency, Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Rizwan Gill’s degree was recently discovered to be fake and his seat was vacated. Political parties are now vying hard to get hold of this vacant seat. Rallies, public gatherings and corner meetings are being organised and each candidate has made bold claims to serve the people after ‘winning the seat’. Several candidates have also started development work to garner votes.
PML-N candidate Tabrez Gill said “After winning the by-election Sargodha’s problems will be my top priority. A hospital has been announced ansewerage, potable water and a degree college for the district are also in the works.”
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Fayaz Ahmed Oathe said “After winning the by-election my party will address the issue of poverty above all things, we will resolve peoples problems by eliminating poverty and making sure everyone has clean drinking water available to them.”
Previously, there were 11 candidates in the constituency but the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) candidate recently withdrew his papers to support PPP candidate Oathe and several other independent candidates have also withdrawn their papers.
Currently, there are four candidates but the race for the post appears to stand between PML-N candidate Tabrez Gill, PPP supported candidate Fayaz Ahmed Oathe and independent candidate Ijaz Ahmed Kahlon. Kahlon said that the federal and provincial government were campaigning for their own candidates but he was counting on the support of the people.
“The government is using soiled measures due to failure, our banners are being removed, our men are being arrested, our supporters are being harassed but they will not quench our spirit,” he said.
IN PP 34 there are 81,554 male and 70,348 female voters and 112 polling stations, 353 polling booths will now be set up throughout the district and 12 presiding officers, 706 assistant presiding officers and 353 polling officers will be deployed to monitor the progress of the polls.
Electioneering in the constituency is now in its final phase.
“Whether the newly elected MPA will resolve the people’s problems or fill his pockets still remains to be seen,” says a polling station attendant, Kashif.
The district police has already declared the 36 polling stations as sensitive. District police officer (DPO) Nasir said that special police squads would be deployed to deal with any unpleasant situation at the 36 polling stations, whereas the government of Punjab had already requested the ministry of interior to deploy Pak Rangers at the site to help maintain law and order on polling day, July 26, 2010.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2010.
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