January 1, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 27, 1423

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BAHAWALPUR, Dec 31: Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi is likely to support independent candidate Saood Majid Chaudhry in the by-election on NA-187 instead of Syed Tasnim Gardezi.

Mr Gardezi turned down PML-Q’s offer for a ticket to seek the support of district Nazim Tariq Cheema.

The Nawab, who is considered a political personality of the district, was undecided until recently to whom he should support. Seemingly he did not want a clash with the prime and chief ministers. Moreover, Mr Gardezi was being tipped as the likely PML-Q candidate.

In order to avoid a clash with Zafarullah Jamali, Pervaiz Elahi and Shujaat Husain, he had given the impression that he would not support any of the candidate. But, as soon as Mr Gardezi returned the PML ticket, the Nawab openly announced his support for Saood Majid, belonging to Arain clan. He is likely to lead Mr Majid’s election campaign in a couple of days.

Nawab Salahuddin is not the only person who opposes Mr Gardezi. The other three MNAs, Riaz Husain Pirzada, Makhdoom Muhammad Ali Gilani and Farooq Azam Malik, have also announced their support for Mr Majid. There is also a possibility that PPP (Patriots) Malik Aamir Warren may support Mr Majid as he attributed his success in the October elections to the Nawab.

It is also tipped that PML-N MPA Malik Iqbal will also back Mr Majid.

DUBAI AMIR: Naib amir Sheikh Hamdan bin Raashid Al-Maktoom left here for Dubai on Tuesday after a 10-day hunting trip of Cholistan.

He was seen off at the Bahawalpur airport by DCO Imran Ahmad, PIA station manager Hidayatullah Khan and others.

More royal guests are due to arrive here for hunting on Jan 3.