SIALKOT: Several candidates are contesting the five NA and 11 PP constituencies in Sialkot district.

Of them, the leading candidates are from the PML-N, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the PPP, several electable candidates are in the run as independent as they were denied tickets from different parties.

These candidates will reduce the votes of their party candidates, especially of the winners, say political observers.

Electioneering reached the top moment after July 15 after public addresses by PTI Chairman Imran Khan at Jinnah Stadium and Hamza Shahbaz in Pasrur.

Ten candidates are in the battlefield for NA-72. They are PML-N’s Chaudhary Armughan Subhani, PTI’s Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, PPP’s Syed Ishtiaqul Hassan Gilani, Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal’s (MMA’s) Parveen Akhtar, Tehreek Labiaik Pakistan’s (TLP’s) Syed Abbas Ali Shah and independent candidates Mian Naeem Javaid (former Sialkot district nazim).

Also, 10 candidates are in the race for NA-73. Main candidates are PML-N’s Khwaja Asif, PTI’s Usman Dar, MQM’s Muhammad Sarwar, TLP’s Rana Naeem Javaid, PPP’s Zarar Mahmood Malik, PST’s Jehangir Rasheed and four independents.

In Pasrur city’s constituency NA-74, 11 candidates are contesting the poll. Candidates are PML-N’s Ali Zahid Hamid, PTI’s Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas, TLP’s Shujaat Ali, MMA’s Mohsin Ikram, PPP’s Nargis Faiz Malik and independent candidates Munawar Ali Gill, Barrister Mansur Sarwar Khan and Rana Liaqat Ali.

In Daska city’s constituency NA-75, PML-N candidate is Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah, PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi, TLP’s Arsalan Zafar, PPP’s Syed Zaheerul Hassan Rizvi and MMA’s Kashan Haider. Six independent candidates are also trying their luck.

Eight candidates are in the run for Sambrial city’s constituency NA-76. The main candidates are PML-N’s Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan, PTI’s retired Brig Muhammad Aslam, TLP’s Muhammad Ameen, MMA’s Muhammad Awais, PPP’s Yasir Mushtaq Bajwa, Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek’s Khaleequr Rehman and independent candidates Mudassar Saleem Baryar and Qasim Ali.

There are 2.33 million registered voters in the Sialkot.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has established 1,862 polling stations.

Deputy Commissioner Tahir Watto said 158 polling stations were in ‘A’ category, 1,018 ‘B’ and 686 polling stations were listed ‘C’ category.

Category ‘A’ polling stations are sensitive for which the district administration has made a special security plan.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2018