SIALKOT: The ‘disgruntled’ PML-N district president Idrees Ahmed Bajwa has announced his support to PTI’s candidate Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan in NA-72 (Sialkot-I) against PML-N’s nominee Chaudhry Armughan Subhani (former MNA). Bajwa has announced support to PTI’s Saeed Ahmed Bhalli in PP-38 (Sialkot-IV) as well.

Talking to newsmen, Bajwa said he announced support to Dr. Firdous and Saeed Bhalli in protest against alleged ‘monopolistic’ politics of the Variyo family.

Bajwa said he had been a diehard worker of the PML-N and he was ignored while Variyo scions Armughan Subhani (former MNA), Khush Akhtar Subhani (ex-provincial minister) and Tariq Akhtar Subhani (former MPA) were promoted. Idrees Bajwa said Khush Akhtar Subhani had contested the 2015 local bodies elections as an independent candidate against the local PML-N candidate in Union Council Bhaagowal, violating the party discipline.

He said it was strange that the PML-N leadership awarded party ticket to Khush Akhtar Subhani, who worked against the party in the 2015 local polls and now he was given ticket.

He vowed to give tough time to the Variyos.

Replying to a question, Bajwa said he would not defect from the party and he had just announced support to the PTI candidates. SIAL: Leading exporters Nadeem Anwar Qureshi and Haseeb Ahmed Bhatti were unanimously elected as chairman and vice chairman, respectively of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) here.

They assumed the charge of their offices on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2018