RAWALPINDI: As the December 5 local government elections in Rawalpindi approach, the race for the slot of the city mayor has started within the ruling party.

The provincial head of the PML-N has sought the help of the police Special Branch to assess the chances of the aspirants to win the polls before declaring the name for the top slot.

There are three main PML-N expected candidates for the mayor of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is also the provincial chief of the ruling party, directed the Special Branch to submit a report about the popularity of the candidates.

PML-N metropolitan president Sardar Naseem, former tehsil nazim Sajjad Khan and Hafiz Abdullah Butt are the expected candidates of the ruling party.

A senior PML-N leader told Dawn that due to the presence of a large number of candidates in the garrison city, the ruling party had not yet finalised a name. He said the decision would be taken after the elections.

Sardar Naseem, Sajjad Khan and Hafiz Abdullah Butt are the front runners

“In an initial report, the Special Branch said Sardar Naseem had 60 per cent, Hafiz Abdullah 65 per cent and Sajjad Khan 45 to 50 per cent chances to be elected as chairmen in their respective union councils,” he said.

When contacted, PML-N former MNA Hanif Abbasi also said the party would take a decision about its candidate for the slot of mayor after the elections. “The PML-N has not yet given a green signal to anyone.”

He said party tickets to the candidates were awarded after the recommendations of the parliamentary committee for the garrison city, comprising all the current and former members of parliament in NA-55 and NA-56. But the decision about the mayor would be held in Lahore as per the directives of the chief minister, he added.

Former MNA Malik Shakil Awan also said the decision about the mayor would be taken after the elections. “We will not disclose the name of the candidate before the elections. It would be an embarrassment for the party if the name of the aspirant is disclosed before the elections and he loses the polls,” he said.

However, he said the PML-N would give the slot to such a candidate who served the party for the last 30 years. “He can also enter the election arena through a special seat,” he added.

The PTI had nominated Rana Suhail as its candidate for the mayor. But after assuming the charge of the chairman election committee Rawalpindi, MPA Arif Abbasi on Sunday reversed the decision of the former party organiser in NA-56, Fiazul Hassan Chohan.

“The candidate for the mayor will be nominated by the winning candidates of the PTI in Rawalpindi after approval from the party leadership. There is no candidate for mayor and the case of Rana Suhail will be taken up after the elections,” Mr Abbasi told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2015