Threatened by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in North Punjab, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to induct Lt General (retd) Abdul Qayyum immediately, assuring him of one ticket out of two constituencies in the Chakwal district, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.
According to a PML-N official, Sharif and Qayyum are set to hold a joint press conference to announce his membership on Friday at Punjab House in Islamabad. Qayyum’s induction was forced by the PTI threat in North Punjab, particularly Chakwal, sources added.
The two seats in Chakwal district NA-60 and NA-61 are occupied by PML-N MNAs Ayaz Amir and Sardar Mumtaz Khan Tamman, respectively. In addition to the PTI challenge, PML-N has also been disappointed by both the MNAs’ performance, particulary Tamman, further expediting Qayyum’s case.
PTI has recruited a number of heavyweight politicians from this district, including former PML-N MNA for NA -61 Faiz Tamman who might give opponents a tough time for this seat.
Reports suggest Ayaz Amir had wanted to join PTI as well, but refrained from the move since the party recruited his opponent from the NA-60 constituency.
PML-N’s MNA Mumtaz Tamman is a weaker candidate compared to its second MNA from Chakwal, Ayaz Amir. However joint candidate for the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Mansoor Hayat Tamman, and PTI’s Faiz Tamman are both strong contenders, capable of ruining PML-N’s chances in Chakwal in the upcoming elections.
Party sources say that Qayyum will be awarded a ticket from either of the two seats. Although he belongs to Ayaz Amir’s NA-60 constituency, the party may be forced to use him as a candidate for NA-61 due to poor showing by Mumtaz Tamman.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Qayyum claimed that his experience in working for two corporations and on many other issues forced Sharif to invite him. He admitted to being impressed with Sharif’s vision as well.
Qayyum besides having a decade’s worth experience in the Pakistan Army has also served as chairman for Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). He was a close ally of former president Pervez Musharraf but resigned from his last responsibility as PSM chairman over the issue of its privatisation.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2012.
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In Chakwal PMLN will win all the seats as they got 120000 votes last time after removing tamen having fake degree....but immediately Imran Niazi contacted him to join lofer party.... One day Jamshad Datsi news came on TV of his resignation and next 2 minutes Niazi called him to join Juwari party......All the mafias and land lords and corupt are in PTI
Good luck PTI for elections....
Our biggest problem is our biased attitude toward every idea and personality that does not agree with us. We love to label anyone with any thing. If you see honestly, you’ll find Ayaz Amir very objective and a just writer. Unlike others he is not politically correct and not a pseudo-intellectual for sure. Even though, he is in PML-N but his writings and comments are always unbiased and honest. Many times his own party members criticize him for calling a “spade a spade”. People like him, Hassan Nisar, Najm Sethi and some others are confused, leftist, anti-Pakistan because they don’t openly lie like others - we hate truth, especially when it is ugly.
@Ch Allah Daad: sir peole who boycott are losers ,he is no match to nawaz sharif who is a different Ball Game
PTI is only threat to itself. Imran will boycott elections at the last moment. He is very good in running away from political contests.
No one leader is going to pay any heed towards your suggestions/comments for the inductions of new horses or expelling old horses among their ranks (piadas in chess game). They will do whatever their vested interests allow them to do.
A big no to Ayaz Amir! He is a confused intellectual.
Please ban fake degree holders like faiz taman from politics. Its better for PTI to induct ayaz amir.
General Qayum is a good man but he has made the wrong choice. PTI's success in the Chakwal constituency is a mixed bag of factors and the least of which is the 'zero-sum game' OR at the very least, loss of PPP/PMLN goodwill in the form of votes. The other factors include the young crowd who are committed to cast their vote this time around as they have seen nothing but crap from the ruling clowns taking their turns at looting Pakistan with both hands and feet. Even the most die-hard PPP voter is disillusioned to such an extent that they are going to REFRAIN from voting, if not cast a vote for PTI. The contest in Chakwal will be between PTI and PMLN. Sardar Ghulam Abbass is well-respected and has a track record of delivering social projects to his constituency.
PTI think tank, where are you sleeping? Why didn't you approach this gentleman? Please compile a list of influenced but honest people of each constituency and send them a formal request to join the team, a visionary team wish to safe Pakistan.
@DevilHunterX: Everyone is Pro Army. By Criticizing their role does not make you a anti Army. Nawaz is not anti Army. Nawaz only wants role of Intelligence agencies in Balochistan to be accountable and their interference in government to be stopped for good. So I agree with Nawaz's stance as he is absolutely right. I love Pakistani Army like Nawaz but i hate their role in Government and in disappearances of people in Balochistan.
@Adnan Khan: Chakwal have one of the highest literacy rates and the reason is most families either belong from Army or live abroad and get education in Rawalpindi and since there is not much agriculture in Chakwal regions as mostly they are mounatnious regions so people resort to education as a means to sustain themselves. You could find MSCs and PHDs in almost every village of Chakwal.
PTI we wish you all the best .
Pro-army, Anti-army, Pro-army? Mr. Flip Flopper
The heading is biased as it seems, former generals can step into politics. Existing generals make it a mess.
was a close ally of former president Pervez Musharraf
And still they say PTI is Musharraf league or sponsored by ISI...
Gen. Qayyum is a good guy. Competent, patriot and clear-headed. He did wonders with Pakistan Steel and left it 8 billion rupees richer. He should have joined PTI. PML-N is a losing proposition going forward. . But Ayaz Amir does not belong in any party on the right. He is pure PPP material. What with his frequent self-proclaimed, on-going love affair with everything india, open contempt for Pakistan Military and admitted propensity for alcohol in his own columns. If Chakwal had higher literacy rate and could read Ayaz's columns, he couldn't get elected on a Union Council seat. .
Ugly, dirty and pathetic politics. Even then NO ONE can save PML-N demise.
umm.. do i remember someone alleging PTI for military back? :p
Ayaz Amir exclusion from PmlN will be an expulsion of PMLN from Chakwal. Also Imran is more stupid than Nawaz and he selected a fake degree holder Faiz Tamman as his candidate. If Imran is serious in politics then Ayaz Amir if wanted to join PTI then he should be given a ticket and Faiz Tamman role fom PTI should be limited. Ayaz amir is an intellectuall and in nort punjab it could be a huge breakthrough if PTI could induct him. But PMLN will do huge blunder if Ayaz amir will not be given a ticket.
nothing can stop pti
He needs them but this retd General is not a winning horse.
Please join PTI