Azam Market: ‘JI man avoids introducing himself as PTI candidate’

PML-N candidate says Hamza has to accomplish great tasks

LAHORE: A two-way contest is expected among the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in Azam Market Union Council-33.

Tanvir Ahmed Mirza and Shehzad Faisal are vying for the chairmanship and vice chairmanship of the UC from the PTI’s platform. Chaudhry Zahid Hussain and Ahmed Rasheed Suchi Butt are the PML-N’s candidates for the slots.

Mirza, who is in the cloth business, told The Express Tribune that he had previously contested two local government elections from the Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI’s) platform. He said he still supported the party. Mirza said he was contesting the elections from the PTI’s platform due to an electoral alliance between the two parties. One of his supporters said Mirza desisted from introducing himself as a PTI candidate to newsmen to avoid being labelled a turncoat.

Mirza is confident of being elected. He said he would strive to have the area’s water pipelines replaced to ensure the provision of clean drinking water. Mirza said some houses in the area had been damaged due to the faulty sewerage system. He said he would try to address the problem. Mirza said he would also ensure that the area’s streets were well-lit and cleanliness standards were maintained.

Butt said the PML-N’s aspirants for the chairmanship and vice chairmanship were contesting for the first time. He said the two were erstwhile supporters of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Butt said they had parted ways with the party when former MNA Jahangir Badr had failed to deliver.

He said the construction of new roads in the area by the government would have a positive impact on the party’s standing. Butt said it had also revamped power lines in the locality and installed 14 new transformers there.

Replying to a question on residents’ complaints regarding the unavailability of PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, he said the lawmaker was a major leader who had to accomplish great tasks for the nation. Butt said PML-N activists are ever-ready to address residents’ problems.

Tahir Chaudhry told The Express Tribune that he would be selected as the minority councillor by Hussain and Butt following their victory. Chaudhry, a Christian, said the number of Christian voters across the UC was nearly 400.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2015.