December 16, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 5, 1428

ATTOCK, Dec 15: Forty-two candidates withdrew their nomination papers for the three National Assembly and five provincial assembly seats here on Saturday.

According to sources, 16 candidates withdrew their nominations for the NA seats: NA-57, NA-58 and NA-59 while 26 aspirants withdrew from the contest for provincial seats: PP-15, PP-16, PP-17, PP-18 and PP-19.

After the withdrawals now 17 candidates are in the run for the three NA seats and 24 for the provincial seats.

The sources said that five candidates namely Qazi Ahmed Akbar, Qari Saeedur Rehman (MMA), Sheikh Suleman Sarwar (PML-N), Mohammad Mukhtar Khattak (JI) and Farrukh Inayat (PPP) took back their papers from the NA-57 Attock-1.

Now six aspirants are in the run for the constituency namely Malik Amin Aslam (independent), Eman Waseem (PML-Q), Sheikh Aftab Ahmed (PML-N), Syed Azmat Ali Bukhari (PPP), Hafiz Saeed Ahmad, Qari Atiqur Rehman (MMA), Mohammad Faisal Khanzada and Syed Munirul Haq (MQM).

Four candidates — Pir Abbas Mohiuddin, Sardar Mumtaz Khan, Mohammad Jameel Anwar and Mohammad Saddique Awan — for NA-58 withdrew their nominations. Now five aspirants — former chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (PML-Q), Malik Ramzan, Sardar Shahnawaz (PPP), Malik Sohail Khan (PML-N) and Abdus Salam Hasan Raza — are in the fray.

NA-59: Seven candidates namely Shahan Malik, Mohammad Haleem, Malik Ali Rafia, Mumtaz Hussian Magiah, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, Mian Habibur Rehman (PML-N) and Sadaqat Khan withdrew their nomination papers for NA-59 Attock-III. Now four aspirants — Waseem Gulzar (PML-Q), Advocate Malik Asif (PML-N), Mian Saleem Haidar Khan (PPP) and Iftikhar Ahmad Khan will contest for the seat.

PP-15: Six candidates Rana Afsar Ali Khan, Sheikh Israr Ahmed (JI), Ali Own Bukhari, Malik Waqar Ahmed, Tariq Mehmmod and Wahid Murad withdrew their papers, and now four aspirants Syed Ejaz Bukhari (PML-Q), Malik Shahan Khan (PPP) and Sheikh Suleman (PML-N) are trying their luck for the seat.

PP-16: Six candidates — Zubaida Rani, Hafiz Haroonur Rasheed, Suleman Sarwar (PML-N), Maulana Mehmoodul Hasan (MMA), Qari Saeedur Rehman and Hafiz Jabir Ali Khan opted out and eight candidates — Shujah Khanzada (independent), Qari Mohammad Ismail, Zubair Khan, Qazi Ahmed Akbar, Fazlur Rehman Wardak, and Dr Naeem Awan will try their luck.

PP-17: Seven candidates Sardar Ameer Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Iqbal, Mumtaz Hussain, Mohammad Saddqiue, Faisal Mansoor and Mian Habibur Rehman (PML-N) have withdrawn their nomination papers and now five aspirants Sardar Mohammad Ali (PML-N), Chaudhry Sher Ali (PML-Q), Asad Zaman Khan, Ishtiaq Ahmed (PPP) and Shahabuddin Qureshi will try their luck for the seat.

PP-18: Two candidates Mohammad Jamil Anwar and Sharyar withdrawn their nominations and now there are three aspirants: Malik Mohammad Anwar (PML-Q), Malik Khuram Ali Khan (PPP) and Malik Asif Ali Khan (PML-N).

 PP-19: Five candidates Malik Suhail Khan (PML-N), Hassan Yar Khan, Malik Khizar Hayat, Abdul Hakeem and Syed Ayaz Mehmmod Gilani have withdrawn their nominations, and now there are six aspirants Sadia Ahmed, Sardar Mumtaz Khan (PML-N), Malik Aitabar (PML-Q), Sardar Mohammad Ameer, Mohammad Ramzan and Abdulsalam Hasan Raza.

The Election Commission of Pakistan would issue the final and official list of candidates later.

Our Correspondent from Gujar Khan: Two more Muttahida Majlis- i-Amal candidates withdrew their nominations on Saturday and initiated anti-election campaign to convince the people to stay away from the electoral process.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (Noorani group) finance secretary Chaudhry Abid Rehman and Jamaat-i-Islami’s Mirza Tajamul Jarral announced their decision not to take part in the polls.

Abid Rehman had filed nominations for NA-51 and PP-3 seats while Tajamul Jarral for PP-4 seat.

Speaking at a press conference, they criticised the government for imposing curbs on media and removing “independent” judiciary. They demanded revival of the 1973 Constitution in its original shape and reinstatement of judges.

They also resented the participation of the PPP, PML-N and other parties in the elections.

A number of other candidates also withdrew their nomination papers on Saturday.

They are:

NA 51: Chaudhry Khurshid Zaman, Chaudhry Khawar Zaman (PML-N); Raja Imran Ashraf, Raja Tanveer Akhtar and Syed Aqeel Mahmood Bokhari (PPP); and Raja Asim Jawaid Ikhlas (PML-Q).

PP-3: Ameer Afzal Qureshi (PML-Q); Chaudhry Khawar Zaman (PML-N) and Advocate Malik Tahir Raheel Awan (PPP).

PP-4: Raja Faisal Aziz Bhatti (PML-Q); Munir Hassan (PPP); Raja Jamal Janjuha, Col Muhammad Akram (retd) of PML-N; Mahboob Alam (MMA) and Raja Iftikhar Kiani, Chaudhry Nisar Haider (independents).

After the withdrawals the following candidates of three major parties are in the run:

NA-51: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (PPP), Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz (PML-N), Raja Qasim Jawaid Ikhlas (PML-Q), Advocate Yahya Faiz (PML-N).

PP-3: Raja Tariq Kiani (PPP), Chaudhry Iftikhar Warsi (PML- N); Chaudhry Jawaid Kausar, PML-Q; and Mirza Saeem Akram (PML-N not ticket holder).

PP-4: Brig Muhammad Hassan (PPP), Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti (PML-Q), Advocate Raja Muhammad Hameed (PML-N); and Yahya Faiz (PML-N).

Yahya Faiz and Mirza Saleem Akram were aspirants for the PML- N tickets and could not withdraw their nominations till filing of this report.