BAHAWALPUR: A four-party alliance has enabled the PPP and the PML-Q to show their presence in elections for 88 union councils (UCs) against ruling party PML-N and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidates.

The alliance consists of the PML-Q, the PPP, Nawab Salahuddin’s BNAP (Bahawalpur National Awami Party) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).

They have fielded unanimous candidates without their election symbols. BNAP’s secretary-general Rafat Rehmani said that most of their candidates were contesting as independent candidates. The PPP fielded its candidates on its arrow symbol for eight UCs chairman seats and 44 for councilors, mostly in the areas of Dhoorekote in tehsil Ahmedpur East and Bahawalpur Sadar tehsil from where PPP district president Sardar Aamir Yar Warren and his wife Khadeja Warren have been elected MNA.

The PML-Q with the support of MNA Tariq Cheema has fielded 22 and 124 candidates for the slots of UC chairmen and general councilors mostly in Yazman and Bahawalpur Sadar tehsil.

The PML-N dominates the elections with its candidates in 86 UCs . The PTI challenged the ruling party by fielding 40 and 125 candidates for chairman and councilor seats.

There are 144 and 1,239 candidates for chairman and general councilors seats.

SCHOOL: Up to 150 students of city schools spent a day in the Bahawalpur cantonment with army officials.

They were briefed about the operations of the armed forces. They enjoyed tank riding, which amused them.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2015