PML-N resolute about clinching NA-162 seat

To confirm candidate after announcement of budget

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keen to see his party win the NA-162 (Sahiwal-III) by-election on July 5. The seat had fallen vacant after the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Rai Hassan Nawaz.

The premier has convened a parliamentary board meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after the announcement of the budget to finalise whom to issue the party ticket for contesting the poll.

An election tribunal in Multan had declared the election of PTI’s Rai Hassan void because he had concealed the details of his assets.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, nomination papers for NA-162 could be filed on June 4 and 5.

Two PML-N members have already been campaigning for the party ticket: former MNA from the constituency, Zahid Iqbal, and Tufail Jutt. Iqbal became an MNA from this constituency in 2008 but had to vacate the seat because he holds dual nationality. In the 2013 general elections, Iqbal’s nomination papers were rejected. PML-N’s Muhammad Ayub then contested the poll against Rai Hassan but was defeated with a minimum margin.

As for candidate number two, Tufail Jutt is a former tehsil nazim and his brothers Arshad Jutt and Hanif Jutt are MPAs from the area.

Due to his family’s dominance in the area, PTI’s Rai Hassan had always enjoyed their support but the rules of the game changed when Iqbal challenged him in 2008.

According to a party source, Iqbal is the most favourite candidate of the PML-N for contesting the NA-162 by-election.

“However, to avoid any rivalry between the two candidates (Zahid Iqbal and Tufail Jutt) and to ensure PML-N’s victory in the by-poll, the PM will himself preside over the party’s parliamentary board meeting to confirm a candidate.”

As the date of the local government elections in Punjab approaches, the party seeks to win the by-poll to strengthen its campaign to ensure that the PML-N dominates the LG elections, said a political observer.

“The party’s victory in the by-poll would benefit the PML-N’s central and Punjab government, sending a message to the party’s political rivals that the Nawaz-led party still enjoys popularity in the province.”

The party source said that in the upcoming meeting of the PML-N’s parliamentary board, PM Nawaz would also task the party’s core committee that deals with election issues to ensure the party’s victory in the by-poll.

He said the party’s Rana Sanaullah would be responsible for using his position as Punjab law minister to prepare the field so that PML-N’s win is guaranteed.


Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2015.