MULTAN, Oct 17: Seriousness of the PPP to form government in the centre and the Punjab is being doubted here after the joining of PML-Q by those independent MNAs and MPAs who are elected with its support.

Independent MNA-elect Tariq Javed (NA-161, Sahiwal-II) has reportedly joined the PML-Q the other day in Lahore. The brother of Sahiwal tehsil Nazim Amer Shahzad, Tariq, has returned with the support of PPP stalwart and MNA-elect Noraiz Shakoor (NA-160, Sahiwal-I).

Mr Shakoor supported him against the PPP candidate, former MNA Ghulam Farid Kathia. Though, Tariq was an independent candidate, he was allotted the election symbol ‘hukah’ despite the fact that it was the symbol of Pakistan Shia Political Party (PSPP).

His brother Amer Shahzad had also opted for the election symbol of hukah when he contested the election last year for the slot of tehsil Nazim. It is learnt that neither Tariq nor the returning officer were aware that hukah was no more an independent election symbol.

Interestingly, MNA-elect Tariq Javed does not belong to Shia sect. But, according to the list released by the Election Commission through the official news agency, APP, a PSPP candidate has been returned from NA-161. Now, it has to be seen whether an MNA elected on ‘PSPP ticket’ can change his party.

MNA-elect Hamid Yar Hiraj (NA-157, Khanewal-II) has also joined the Q-league along with his brother Muhammad Yar and associate Zahoor Ahmad Daha who have been elected from PP-214 and PP-215. They all exploited their link with the PPP during their electioneering not even verbally but through literature as well.

Similarly, PPP’s MNA-elect Qayyum Jatoi from NA-180 (Muzaffargarh-V) had fielded his candidates as independents in the Punjab assembly constituencies PP-260 and -261 that came under his NA seat. His nominee Yasser Arafat Jatoi returned from PP-260 and Qaim Ali Shah from PP-261 as the PPP did not field its candidates against them on the recommendation of Qayyum Jatoi. But, both of the Jatoi’s independent candidates have joined the PML-Q the other day in a meeting with Pervaiz Elahi in Lahore.

PPP’s stalwart in Vehari, former state minister Qurban Chauhan did not take part in the election but his son Khalid Mahmood has been returned from PP-235 (Vehari-IV) as an independent. Khalid has also taken the oath of allegiance to Pervez Elahi.

When contacted, PPP spokesman Khwaja Rizwan said his party had not so far assigned anyone to muster the support of independent candidates from the south Punjab while on the other hand the provincial and district bureaucracy were wooing the independents to join the PML-Q.

EXPLANATION: The provincial information secretary has sought explanation from the executive director of Punjab Council of Arts (Pucar) regarding the posting and place of duty of the programme officer of Dera Ghazi Khan Arts Council, Afraz Ahmed.