BAHAWALPUR: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has awarded tickets to Chaudhry Naeemuddin Warraich for NA-171 (Bahawalpur-II), Khadeeja Aamir NA-173 (Bahawalpur-IV) and Syed Samiul Hasan Gilani NA-174 (Bahawalpur-V). Similarly, the party has announced ticket holders for five, out of 10, Punjab Province constituencies.

The party did not come up with its choice for NA-170 as for NA-172, it will not field its candidate against PML-Q’s Tariq Basheer Cheema under a seat adjustment arrangements. There were rumours making rounds that Nawab Bahawal Abbasi has been awarded ticket for NA-170.

Naeem Iqbal Wariach fought the 2013 elections against PML-N’s Riaz Pirzada as a PTI candidate and got 53,000 votes. This time, a tough competition is expected between the two rival candidates. The ticker winner of NA-172, Mr Gilani, is an old politician who remained the district nazim.

Ms Warren is a former PPP MNA and wife of former MNA Sardar Aamir Yar Warren, of Dhoorkotewala, while Aamir Warren along with his brother-in-law former MPA Sardar Jahanzeb Warren joined the PTI last year when PTI chief Imran Khan visited their native place Dhoorekore. During that visit, Mr Khan could not visit the Dera Nawab Sahib on the invitation of Sahibzada Usman Abbasi, former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly. Mr Abbasi recently parted his ways with the PTI and joined the PPP.

The PTI also issued party ticket to Jahanzeb Warren for PP-251 while Usman’s son Sahibzada Gazain Abbasi is contesting for PP-253 as a PTI candidate.

The PTI has also confirmed its tickets for two more provincial assembly candidates Makhdoom Iftikhar Gilani for PP-254 and Muhammad Asghar Joya for PP-245.

Among those vying for the NA-170 ticket include former minister Farooq Azam Malik, former MPA Samiullah Chaudhry, former hockey star Samiullah Khan.

The list of aspirants saw a new name - Zahid Channar – who called on PTI chief Imran Khan in Banigala on Friday and joined the party. Mr Channar became tehsil nazim of Bahawalpur in 2005, thanks to the efforts of his friend and then district nazim Tariq Cheema. In the 2016 local bodies election, Mr Channar joined hands with former education minister Baleeghur Rehman.

Later, he joined the PTI and was an applicant for the PTI ticket for NA-170. Mr Samiullah announced his candidature for the constituency about two years ago. Though settled in Karachi and running his custom house there, the flying horse hero has its roots here. Tahseen Nawaz Gardezi was yet another aspirant for the ticket but he has been granted the ticket for PP-246.

Farooq Azam Malik is banking on the support of Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi for the ticket.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2018