Bibian Pak Daman: Rivals pledge to maintain sectarian harmony

PML-N promises parking space, PTI says need for dispensary pressing

LAHORE: The political temperature in Union Council-172 is high with candidates of rival parties determined to defeat each other.

The number of registered voters in the UC is 12,800. Of these, 5,576 are women. The UC includes the Siddiqueabad, C-Type Railway Headquarter, Kinnaird School, Cairns Railway Hospital, Railway Headquarters Colony, Muhammadnagar Jamia Naeemia, Bibian Pak Daman and Qazilbash Road areas.

Residents told The Express Tribune that unsafe drinking water, unpaved streets, grievances against the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and unemployment were the chief problems in the area. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s candidate for chairmanship, Malik Khalid, is in the paper business. He was elected as a councillor in the 2005 local government elections.

Mufti Qaiser Naeem, the PML-N’s candidate for the UC’s vice chairmanship, has the support of Jamia Naeemia. He said the people would approach it to ensure that their problems were addressed.

The PML-N candidates said they would strive to resolve citizens’ problems. They said transforming the locality into a model area was their mission. The PML-N candidates said they would also strive to reserve space for devotees frequenting the Bibian Pak Daman.

They also vowed to promote sectarian harmony in the area.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s candidate for chairman, Malik Yousaf, is in the catering business. Abdul Rashid, the party’s candidate for vice chairman is a baker.

They said repairing roads and streets, establishing a dispensary, ensure the provision of clean drinking water and overcoming challenges related to drainage and sewerage were their chief priorities. The candidates said there was a pressing need for a dispensary in the locality. They said they would establish a state-of-the-art free dispensary after being elected.

Farakh Majeed Bhatti, an aspiring general councillor, said he was the mutawalli of Bibian Pak Daman.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2015.