MURREE: PML-N has decided to give a reserved labour seat to the Murree tehsil, for its record victory in the recently held local government elections. It is expected that one of the three vice chairman seats will be given to Murree.

Individuals elected on seats reserved for labour, peasants and technocrats are eligible to contest the chairman and vice chairman seats, the same as elected chairmen of Rawalpindi union councils (UC).

However, there is currently a tug-of-war between PML-N leaders for the party ticket. The party high command has chosen to award one ticket, but two strong candidates have left party officials undecided.

Sources said PML-N Murree general secretary Haqnawaz Abbasi, a former nazim from UC Phagwari, has the support of the majority of UCs and is a favourite for the reserved seat. However, Hafiz Usman Abbasi, special assistant to Federal Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, is also lobbying to receive the party ticket.There are six reserved seats in Rawalpindi district, where polls were to be held on February 10. However, following postponement by the election commission, the new dates are awaited.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016