June 07, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 02, 1429

OKARA, June 6: The stage is almost set for a landslide victory of Mian Khurram Jehangir Wattoo, the son of Mian Manzoor Wattoo, in the bypoll for NA-147 (Okara-V) seat after the PML-N has decided not to field its candidate against the PPP nominee.

Rivals of Mian Manzoor Wattoo, including former provincial ministers Syed Afzaal Ali Shah, his son Syed Raza Ali Gillani, former MPAs Chaudhry Iftikhar Hussain Chachhar, Deewan Ikhlaq Ahmad and former PPP ticket holder in NA-147 Sardar Khizar Hayat Ladhoka Wattoo, have been refused to award the PML-N ticket.

It is learnt that Syed Afzaal Ali Shah even met Mian Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence to get the PML-N ticket, but his request was turned down.

Now all the rejected candidates are struggling to pitch Mian Naseem Ahmad Wattoo, the brother-in-law of Mian Manzoor Wattoo, against Khurram Wattoo.

It is reported that Mian Naseem Wattoo wanted to contest elections, but Manzoor Wattoo preferred his son over his brother-in-law that has also dented their 30-year-old relations.

Mian Manzoor Wattoo, who won two seats in the Feb 18 elections -- NA-147 and NA-146, has retained the latter seat. He vacated the NA-147 seat to get his son nominated on it after he announced joining the PPP in the presence of party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari only the last week in Islamabad.

Khurram Wattoo resigned from the nazim office of Deepalpur tehsil to contest bypoll for NA-147 seat after the PPP has awarded him ticket.

Mian Manzoor Wattoo had in his press conference the previous day thanked Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for awarding ticket to his son and also Mian Nawaz Sharif for not fielding PML-N candidate on NA-147 constituency.

LONG MARCH: The Jamaat-i-Islami, Punjab, has announced extending full support to lawyers in the long march to Islamabad.

JI’s Punjab acting Amir Azhar Iqbal Hasan said this at the district office at Markaz Islami here on Friday. District Amir Farooq Sheikh, MMA district president Dr Liaquat Ali Kausar and Sheikh Azhar Mehmood were also present.

LOOTED: Robbers looted cash and valuables in four strikes in and around the city on Friday.

Reports said that Javed Iqbal was on way to his Jonia village from Mouza Akbar when four armed robbers intercepted him and snatched Rs10,000 in cash from him.

Iftikhar of Youngpur village was going to a nearby Chak 40/GD on his motorcycle when he was stopped by three motorcyclists. After snatching Rs5,000 in cash and his bike at gunpoint, the outlaws escaped from the scene.

Two brothers, Naveed and Saeed, were waiting for a transport at a bus stop in Chak 4/GD when gunmen, riding on a motorcycle, came there and deprived them of cash and valuables.