By-polls supervision: Sarwar welcomes troop deployment

Says Rangers should be deployed during local govt elections

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab organiser Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Monday welcomed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to deploy army personnel during the upcoming by-elections in Lahore and Lodhran.

He was addressing public meetings in Garhi Shahu, Samanabad and Ichhra for NA-122 by-elections.

Deputy organiser Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, by-poll candidates Abdul Aleem Khan, Shoaib Siddiqui and MPA Aslam Iqbal were also present.

“Deployment of Rangers is necessary to ensure free and fair local government polls as well.

The government is trying to steal people’s mandate. However, it will not be possible this time. The masses are looking towards the PTI to rid them of bad governance and corruption,” he said.

“A NEPRA report has revealed 70 per cent over-billing. The report backs the PTI’s claims about corruption, criminal negligence and incompetence in the government,” he said.

“Khwaja Asif and Abid Sher Ali should resign following the revelation that they are responsible for load-shedding,” he said. Sarwar said that the government’s power projects were mere deception.

NA-122

Former PML-Q MNA Mian Munir on Monday announced his support for Abdul Aleem Khan.

Aleem Khan announced that the PTI chief would visit Munir’s residence during his visit to Lahore on Thursday.

Farrukh Javed, a member of the PTI Lahore Organising Committee, said that Munir had not officially announced his decision to join the PTI. “However, the possibility cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Munir said that he had extended support to Aleem Khan for the NA-122 by-election. “I did so only after taking my party into confidence. The party leadership is well aware of my support to Aleem Khan in my personal capacity. There are no differences over the issue with my party leadership, especially with Pervaiz Elahi,” he said.

To a question about Imran Khan’s visit to his residence scheduled for September 30, Munir said that it was to express gratitude for his support. According to PTI officials, Imran Khan will lead the NA-122 by-election campaign in its final phase.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.