No cause for concern: PM to select PML-N’s mayoral candidate: Rana Sanaullah

Law minister says party will sweep forthcoming elections

FAISALABAD:

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Monday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would select the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N’s) mayoral candidate.

The minister made the remarks at a reception held on Monday evening. Sanaullah said the prime minister had entrusted Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif with the task of reconciling differences among party ranks. Sanaullah said the PML-N would sweep the forthcoming local government elections.

Commenting on former mayor Sher Ali’s allegations against him, he said Ali’s remarks were devoid of any sense. “He is in that stage of life where one is no longer aware of what they remark,” Sanaullah said. The minister said differences of opinion among party ranks was not an alarming issue as it was the country’s preeminent political force. He said this would also have no impact on its popularity. “Every party faces such challenges. It is a routine matter. Factionalism in the party in Faisalabad does not merit serious attention,” Sanaullah said.

The law minister said Ali’s threats regarding parting ways with the PML-N and having his son Abid Sher Ali to resign were meaningless as he would remain associated with the party come what may. He said the prime minister had taken notice of Ali’s remarks and had entrusted the chief minister with the task of reconciling differences among party ranks in his presence.

Sanaullah said all PML-N candidates would have the complete support of the party. He said party activists and traditional voters had been instructed to vote for independent candidates who were known sympathisers of the party.

“In Faisalabad, the PML-N is pitted against another faction of the PML-N. Therefore, we will sweep the elections,” Sanaullah said. “While minor altercations are a part and parcel of every election, citizens should have no cause for concern as arrangements are being made to prevent any untoward situation,” the law minister said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2015.