VEHARI: The PPP and PML-N withdrew tickets from their candidate in NA-162 Vehari-I and PP-230 Vehari-II.

The PPP withdrew its ticket from Shagufta Chaudhry, who was contesting for the National Assembly seat, and instead awarded it to Kamran Yousaf Ghumman.

Ms Shagufta said she was working as an office-bearer of the party’s south Punjab chapter. She claimed Ghumman was not in a position to contest against the rival candidates in the constituency, but she accepted the party’s decision.

On the other hand, the PML-N withdrew its ticket in PP-230 from former MPA Chaudhry Arshad Arain allegedly owing to differences with former MNA Chaudhry Nazir Arain. The party then awarded the ticket to Khalid Mehmood Dogar.

Chaudhry Nazir’s nomination papers had been rejected by the returning officer as well as the election tribunal. He later fielded his elder brother, a retired banker, Chaudhry Faqir Arain, as candidate for NA-162. For the provincial seat, he openly opposed the selection of former MPA Chaudhry Arshad, who had joined the PML-N after quitting the PPP in 2010 by-elections.

Chaudhry Arshad told Dawn that he would contest the elections as an independent candidate for PP-230.

Previously, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had withdrawn its ticket from Ayesha Nazir Jutt and her father Nazir Jutt. Ms Ayesha and Ms Arifa Nazir Jutt were now contesting elections as independent candidates in NA-162 and NA-163.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2018