July 05, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 1, 1429

SIALKOT, July 4: A Pakistan Muslim League-Q candidate for PP-121 by-election has announced boycotting the poll, claiming a “massive pre-poll” rigging by both ruling coalition parties – the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party.By-election for PP-121 will be held on Saturday (today) and the Election Commission has established 130 polling stations, of them 39 are declared ‘sensitive’.

The seat fell vacant after PML-N MPA Rana Tariq Mahmood Harna died in a road accident near Aadha-Daska.

PML-Q candidate Ajmal Cheema told reporters on Friday the federal government was supporting PPP candidate Chaudhry Sagheer Sultan while the Punjab government was out to ensure the win for PML-N candidate Rana Arif Mahmood Harnah.

Besides PPP and PML-N candidates, Variyo family’s Khush Akhtar Subhani is in the field as an independent candidate.

In the Feb 18 elections, Rana Tariq defeated PML-Q’s Ajmal Cheema with a margin of 35,000 votes. Now, the PML-N has awarded its ticket to deceased Tariq’s elder brother Arif Harnah.

Mr Subhani also tasted defeat as a PML-Q candidate from PP-125 by PPP’s Tahir Mehmood Hundali in the Feb 18 elections.

The PML-N candidate is trying to benefit from sympathy wave due to the sad demise of his younger brother, Mr Subhani is also trying to take advantages of the sad demise of his father Chaudhry Akhtar Ali Variyo, former MNA.

PPP MNA Dr Fardous Ashiq Awan claimed the PPP candidate Sultan would clinch the seat. Punjab Governor Salman Taseer visited the constituency on Thursday for electioneering of the PPP candidate.