December 19, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 8, 1428

OKARA, Dec 18: The deep fissure in the PML-Q ranks has prompted former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi to ‘cancel’ his scheduled visit to Okara on Dec 25.

Realizing the deep-rooted differences on the allocation of seats in Okara and Deepalpur tehsils, former defence minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal has taken the plea that since little time is left for the election campaign the arrangements for a massive public gathering would not be a fruitful exercise at this stage.

In Okara, the PML-Q has not only awarded NA-144 ticket to Rao Sikandar Iqbal but also placed on his discretion the tickets for two provincial assembly seats falling in his NA constituency.

Mr Iqbal has to give PP-190 ticket to former city nazim Muhammad Afzal Paiji when Rao’s camp man and popular candidate Mian Muhammad Munir did not oblige him. Mian Munir is now the PML-N candidate.

PML-Q worker and market committee administrator Mian Abdul Rashid had also filed the nomination papers of his son-in-law Athar Iqbal for PP-190. Being a close friend of Pervaiz Elahi, Mian Rashid was optimistic to get the PML-Q ticket for his son-in-law. After refusal, Mr Iqbal has decided to contest as an independent candidate.

Similarly, Rao Sikandar Iqbal has awarded PP-191 ticket to his cousin Maj Rao Khalil Akhtar (retired) after former MPA Mian Yawar Zaman, the son of PML-N district president and former federal minister, also refused the PML-Q ticket.

While Rao Iqbal refused to give the ticket to PML-Q activist Farid Tariq Khan, a close friend of former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani. Farid Khan has also decided to run for PP-191 as an independent candidate.

Now Athar Iqbal and Farid Khan are vigorously running election campaigns in their respective constituencies which may prove harmful at the end of the day for the PML-Q candidates.

It is learnt that Rao Sikandar Iqbal has asked Pervaiz Elahi to direct Mian Abdul Rashid to withdraw the candidature of his son-in-law, but Athar Iqbal is still continuing his election campaign. Reports further said that Mr Iqbal had even contacted the highest authority of the country to intervene in the matter.

In Deepalpur tehsil, former chief minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo is contesting election for NA-147 against PML-Q candidate and former MNA Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan.

Mr Wattoo is also fighting for PP-187 constituency against former provincial minister and PML-Q candidate Syed Raza Ali Gillani.

Similarly, former MNA Mrs Robina Shaheen Wattoo, the daughter of Mian Manzoor Wattoo, is also in the race for PP-188 against PML-Q candidate Mian Fayyaz Wattoo.

The Wattoo family has gained the solid vote strength in NA-146 after the Mokal family, led by Sardar Sheharyar Mokal, has decided to support Mian Mazoor Wattoo.