TOBA TEK SINGH: In a dramatic development on Thursday, Pirmahal PPP leader and the party’s defeated candidate for PP-89 in 2013 general election Rana Muhammad Shafiq announced joining the PTI.

After his joining the PTI, he was awarded party ticket and allotted the bat symbol.

Mr Shafiq had bagged more than 26,000 votes in 2013 general election and was runner up against PML-N’s Makhdoom Ali Raza. He belongs to the group of Pir Ali Baba, a nephew of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

After Mr Shafiq becoming PTI candidate, a tough fight is expected in the PP-89 by-election to be held on Jan 6.

The seat was vacated after the death of Makhdoom Ali Raza.

The PML-N had already awarded ticket to Pir Ali Baba, who lost on PPP ticket in NA-94 (Kamalia-Pirmahal) in 2013 general election. He is now union council No 77 independent chairman-elect.

Pir Ali Baba is also caretaker of shrine of Hazrat Pir Qutab Ali Shah of Sindhillianwali.

Pir Ali Baba never announced joining the PML-N. He had applied for the PML-N ticket without announcing quitting the PPP.

Meanwhile, on the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers on Thursday, seven out of total 18 candidates withdrew their papers. Out of the remaining 11 candidates in the field, nine including two daughters of late Makhdoom Ali Raza and wife of Riaz Fatyana, Begum Ashfa Fatyana, are contesting the by-poll as independents.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015