GUJRANWALA City News

NA-101 by-election tomorrow

Tough contest expected between PML-N, PTI

From Azam Butt

GUJRANWALA: A close contest is expected between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) in NA-101 by-election scheduled to be held on March 22.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has fielded Justice (retired) Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema while the PTI has fielded Muhammad Ahmad Chattha.

The PML-N wanted to retain the seat has again nominated Justice (retired) Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema, who was unseated by the Supreme Court for concealing assets of his wife. In the 2013 general elections, Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema was elected the MNA from the constituency by securing 99,924 votes whereas his rival candidate Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, son of senior politician and former National Assembly speaker Hamid Nasir Chattha, obtained 60,795 votes. The Chattha family has been contesting elections from Wazirabad tehsil since long and has a considerable vote bank, especially in the rural areas.

According to public and political circles, there are equal opportunities for both the candidates. The leaders and parliamentarians of both parties are running campaigns for their candidates.

PTI chairman Imran Khan has made two visits to the area and addressed the rallies while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Hamza Shahbaz has also addressed an election meeting in the constituency.

PML-N coordinator Manshaullah Butt, district president Mustansar Gondal, Salman Khalid Butt and almost all MNAs and MPAs of the district were running the campaign of the party candidate.

APP adds from Sialkot: As many as 366,016 registered voters, including 218,118 male and 167,898 female, will cast their votes during the by-election. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a plan for holding free, fair and transparent by-election in the constituency amid tight security.

According to the ECP officials, the ECP has established 262 polling stations, including 43 for male, 43 for female and 176 combined, in the constituency. Meanwhile, Wazirabad Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Baryar said that as many as 11 polling stations had been declared sensitive. The ECP had installed CCTV cameras to monitor the election situation there.  Earlier, Sadr SP Dr Rizwan Khan said that paramilitary troops would patrol to ensure the law and order situation during the polling while special police officials had also been deputed at all polling stations.