SAHIWAL: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shafqat Mahmood is currently campaigning in Sahiwal and other districts of south Punjab, including Khanewal and Multan, ahead of the upcoming intraparty election.

Mahmood is contesting for the party’s Punjab president as a nominee of the Nazariati group of PTI.

Dr Saeed Dogar, the elder brother of PML-N MPA Waheed Dogar, hosted a lunch in the honour of Mahmood at his residence that was attended by a large number of local dignitaries, including businessmen, lawyers, political workers and Nazriati group supporters.

While talking to Dawn, Mahmood said after Tasneem Noorani’s resignation, deliberation within the party had started and soon the chairman would announce the new election commissioner. He said he was touring 36 districts of Punjab.

Answering a question about the total number of voters in Punjab for the party president’s election, he said the PTI membership drive was going on and it would end on March 31.

“The membership drive date will probably be extended and the total number of constituents will be notified later,” he added.

The PTI leader was accompanied by former MNA Rai Azizullah, a prominent member of the Nazariati group.

Mahmood’s name was finalised by the Nazariati group after Ejaz Chaudhry formally withdrew last week from the race for highest party office in the province.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2016