PM to meet PML-N MPAs in KP Assembly on Feb 20 to discuss Senate election

MANSEHRA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would meet MPAs of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on February 20 to settle the issues regarding the allotment of Senate tickets.
This was stated by Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Saleh Muhammad Khan on Sunday.The allotment of party ticket to Lt Gen (Retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi from Mansehra to contest the Senate election has generated controversy as the PML-N’s provincial president Pir Sabir Shah, who was named as the covering candidate for Tirmizi, expressed reservations over the decision.
Sabir Shah said he was the provincial president of the party and cannot agree to become the covering candidate for Tirmizi. However, he refrained from criticizing the party leadership and instead used a conciliatory tone while arguing his case.
PML-N’s top leadership is perturbed over the stance of Pir Sabir Shah. It is faced with another challenge also as the party’s four MPAs from Mansehra have demanded the Senate ticket for former Senator Fauzia Fakharuzzaman and Rs2 billion development package for the district.
The MPAs, including Saleh Mohammad Khan, Wajiuzzaman Khan, Sardar Zahoor
and Mian Ziaur Rehman have conveyed their demands to the party’s high command. Fauzia Fakharuzzaman is the mother of MPA Wajiuzzaman Khan.
“All four MPAs from Mansehra in a meeting with the central leadership of
the party in Islamabad three days ago demanded the Senate ticket for Fauzia Fakharuzzaman and the Rs2 billion development package for Mansehra district as we think the federal government should do more to address the issues being faced by the locals who voted for our party,” Saleh Muhammad Khan told reporters here.
He said the PML-N won four of the five provincial assembly seats in Mansehra. “The federal government should allocate more funds for the people of this district,” he demanded.
Fauzia Fakharuzaman, who had remained senator of Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded two times, belongs to Oghi in Mansehra. She has submitted nomination papers for the coming Senate elections for the women seat.
“This is the appropriate time to work for the uplift of the people through mega development projects. I am optimistic the prime minister would give approval for mega development package for the district from where his son-in-law Mohammad Safdar was also elected as MNA,” lawmaker Saleh Mohammad Khan said.