KASUR: Three aspirants of PML-N tickets, including two former MPAs, have decided to oppose the PML-N ticket holders and contest the election against them.

Waqas Hassan Mokal who changed two parties after quitting the PML-Q a month ago has decided to run as independent for PP-177. He left the PML-Q on May 24 and joined the PTI hoping for PP-177 ticket.

The PTI however awarded ticket to retired Col Muhammad Hashim Dogar. Mokal then joined the PML-N but failed again.

Waqas Hassan Mokal who won the seat in 2013 from the PML-Q platform is the son of former deputy speaker and provincial minister Hassan Akhtar Mokal.

For this seat, the PML-N had awarded ticket to Ahsan Raza, former PML-N MPA in 2008 election.

Former MPA Anees Ahmed Qureshi of PML-N, who won the 2013 election, had to pull a long face on Saturday when the party awarded ticket to ex-MPA Muhammad Ilyas Gujjar for PP-182. On Sunday, Qureshi held a meeting with his aides in Kot Radha Kishan and announced to run as an independent candidate. He also announced that his son Dawood Qureshi would contest NA-138 poll as an independent against PML-N’s Malik Rasheed Ahmed and PTI’s Sardar Rashid Tufail.

Another aspirant of the PML-N ticket for NA-138, former MNA Sulaman Hanif, son of ex-PML-N MNA Muhammad Hanif, has been shocked by the ticket denial. He is yet to show his reaction.

According to local political pundits, Hanif may oppose the PML-N and support the PTI.

The PML-N is yet to decide the ticket for PP-175 where two former MPAs of PML-N Nadeem Yaqoob Seithi and Malik Ahmed Saeed are aspirants. The PP-175 is the mixture of two former constituencies ( before delimitation) including PP-178 and PP-176. It is the home town of Seithi and includes more area from former PP-176.

The PML-N has given two tickets to former MNA Rana Muhammad Hayat, one for NA-140 and the other for PP-180.

Meanwhile, PML-N’s former MNA and MPA Waseem Akhtar and Naeem Safdar who have been awarded tickets are yet to start their election campaign for they are facing a contempt trial in the LHC for using abusive language against the CJP.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2018