MURREE, April 16: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is almost out of the political race in NA-50 (Murree and Kotli Sattian), as the election tribunal has disqualified the party’s strong candidate, Ghulam Murtaza Satti.

Mr Satti’s nomination papers were rejected on the appeal of a local resident, who alleged that as an adviser to the ministry of finance he could not contest the election.

Mr Satti held the office of the adviser to Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IPDF) for five years and allegedly earned millions of rupees.

He had also been widely criticised by local PPP workers for holding the office.

The division of rightwing votes and three potential candidates from the rival Abbasi clan had provided Mr Satti with a strong position in the constituency, as he was the only candidate from NA-50 where the Sattis are in a dominant number.

After the tribunal’s decision, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-N will be more comfortable, especially if the PPP fails to award the ticket to a strong worker.

Instead of a party worker, Murtaza Satti had nominated his wife Fatima Satti as his covering candidate.

However, other PPP workers had also filed their nomination papers. Jabbar Satti, the younger brother of Nisar Satti who was a close associate of Benazir Bhutto, is popular among the PPP workers in the region. Similarly, Nazir Satti, president PPP Murree for last 20 years, is also an option for the party.

The PPP failed to find a suitable candidate for the provincial assembly, and is supporting the PML-Q candidate for the seat.

The rejection of its strong candidate has come as a blow. The party had won both the NA and PA seats in 2002 but lost in 2008 due to lack of contact with the locals.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.