Lahore Cantonment ward 2: ‘I fear rivals might steal my plans’

Streets and roads can wait, Abbas Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s candidate, says. “If I get elected, my priority will be installing at least four to six water filtration plants in the constituency…it is safe drinking water that we need.” Qureshi says he has done his homework. Budget estimates and proposals for improved road infrastructure are ready, he says. “But the issue of safe drinking water comes first.” Abbas Dogar, an independent candidate, says people have tried and tested political parties and have gotten no relief from them. “If I win, it will be my only chance and I will put heart and soul in working for the welfare of my constituency.”  He says he has a welfare plan ready for the area. “But I can’t make that public yet…my rivals might steal my plans.” Some of the projects Dogar has his eyes on are to build a playground for children. He wants to acquire land for this in at least two localities. He says there was a shortage of graveyards in the constituency and a lot of people complained of having to bribe grave diggers. “I will try to acquire more land for graveyards.” Chaudhry Ikhlaq Hussain, the candidate for PTI, says his priority would be to ensure safe drinking water and a proper sewerage system. “After we get a new sewerage system, we will move on to carpeting roads.” He said that the Cantonment Board charges Rs2,000 to Rs4,000 for birth and marriage certificates. “We will make this process free of charge.”  Ahmad Naseem Dogar, the candidate for Jamaat-i-Islami, says there are a lot of issues which need to be solved on priority. “I will solve all problems if I get elected. We will hold weekly open courts where the presence of SHOs will be made mandatory.” Ward 2 comprises Diki Mohalla, Behzad Mohalla, Doongi Ground, Kotwali Mohalla, Bengali Mohalla, Ghas Mandi, Nonia Mandi, Daily Road and Bansi Talab areas.


Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2015.