MULTAN City News

ECP bans, PTI vows to hold rally in PP-196
From Our Correspondent
MULTAN: The Election Commission of Pakistan has restricted political parties from holding public meetings in PP-196 constituency and barred parliamentarians from addressing public meetings, according to an official announcement here Saturday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has, however, announced continuing with its plan of holding a public meeting on May 15 at any cost.
The PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-N had announced public meetings on May 15 and May 17, respectively and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif were scheduled to address the rallies in the PP-196 constituency.
Local election officials told The News the ECP has issued a notification, restricting both political parties from holding election meetings in the limits of PP-196. The notification is part of the election code of conduct. However, it is expected that both parties may hold their public meetings beyond the limits of PP-196.
Talking to The News PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the party did not terminate its election meetings schedule. He said the PTI would not postpone its election meeting on the scheduled date of May 15 and Imran Khan would address the party workers. He said he had just received the copy of the ECP notification and was consulting legal consultant. He said he would approach the ECP to ask about the matter.

PTI demands by-polls under Rangers
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded the government depute Rangers and install CCTV cameras in PP-196 constituency for free, fair and transparent by-elections, scheduled to be held on May 21.
There are 14 candidates in the run but not a single candidate except for the PTI’s has demanded deputing Rangers in the constituency on the polling day.
PTI’s Rana Abdul Jabbar submitted an application with the PP-196 district returning officer on Saturday. The candidate expressed his fears about law and order situation on the polling day. He said there were serious threats of interruption by miscreants. Frequent firing incidents and murder of innocent persons have been reported in the past elections in the constituency, Rana Jabbar said.
Various polling stations have been declared sensitive in the constituency. The circumstances call for installation of CCTV cameras and deputation of Rangers on the election day to avoid any untoward incident, he stated.
Meanwhile, the Regional Election Office has issued the final list of candidates and allotment of symbols to the candidates. The candidates include: Asif Rasool Awan (Guitar), Engineer Skhawat Hussain (Tent), Prof Lajpal (Toothbrush), Shabbir Akhtar (Rabbit), Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain Arian (Arrow), Habib Ahmed Ansari (Eagle), Dr Muhammad Siraj (Pressure Cooker), Rana Abdul Jabbar (Bat), Rana Mehmoodul Hassan (Tiger), Rao Zulqarnain (Goat), Sheikh Muhammad Younis (Cow), Talib Ali Javed Anjum (Table Lamp), Muhammad Wasim (Stapler) and Nasreen Akhtar (Roller of Wood).