|
|
| September 18, 2005 | Sunday | Sha'aban 13, 1426 |
Opposition pitches candidates against PML
FAISALABAD, Sept 17: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy local leaders have fielded joint candidates for the city district and town nazims, and vowed to launch a vigorous campaign against the ruling party candidates both in rural and urban areas.
The announcement was made by the ARD leaders, headed by secretary-general Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, at a news conference held at a local hotel on Saturday.
Former PML-N MNA Rana Zahid Tauseef has been fielded for the top slot of the district as former MNA Chaudhry Sher Ali, ex-MPA Rana Muhammad Afzal and PPP-backed Advocate Ijaz Ahmad Virk announced withdrawal of their nomination papers in favour of Mr Tauseef.
Former union council nazim Zafar Iqbal has been nominated by the opposition for Lyallpur Town, Shahzad Malik, the brother of PML-N MPA Nawaz Malik for Jinnah Town, Khalid Saeed Gill for Iqbal Town, former MPA Farooq Saeed Khan for Samundri Town, former provincial minister Chaudhry Muhammad Akram for Jaranwala Town and Dr Jawed Iqbal for Chak Jhumra Town.
However, the alliance would take a decision about Madina Town candidate in a day after deliberations by the PPP and the PML-N.
Mr Jhagra told journalists that joint candidates would be fielded in all towns, tehsils and districts of the country for third phase of the local polls so as to teach the government-supported nominees a lesson.
The government agencies, he alleged, had broken all previous records of rigging in the last two phases of the elections to get their handpicked persons elected for the local councils. However, he added, the masses resisted and elected the members who were against the government.
Other speakers, including former MNA Chaudhry Sher Ali and district nazim nominee Rana Zahid Tauseef, alleged that the district coordination officers and the district police officers were working like the ruling PML activists.
Case: The district police claimed on Saturday to have registered a case against eight employees of the National Logistic Cell for torturing a photographer, keeping him in illegal confinement and threatening him with dire consequences, besides snatching his camera.
Reports said Asadullah, lensman of a local Urdu daily, tried to capture pictures of the NLC personnel when they were beating up a citizen for crossing the under-construction road near Chiniot Bazaar Chowk. The NLC personnel overpowered Asadullah and took him to a camp office nearby where they thrashed and abused him.
The officials were booked under section 148, 149, 342, 506 and 356.
|
|
