GUJRAT: Though the schedule for the by-polls has yet to be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan, PML N’s Nasir Lilla and former MNA Nawabzada Matloob Mehdi have launched electioneering for PP-27 by-poll, the seat vacated by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson and MNA Fawad Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry won both NA-67 and PP-27 and retained the NA seat of Pind Daden Khan-Lilla-Jalalpur Sharif in Jhelum. The PTI won PP-27 with a thin margin on July 25 where Mr Chaudhry secured 67,003 votes against PML N’s Lilla who got 65,237 votes.

Apparently both Mr Mehdi and Mr Lillah visited the commercial area of the main town in the constituency to pay thanks to the traders for their support but in fact they have launched their campaign for the by-polls.

In July 25 polls, Mr Chaudhry had the support of former PML-N MPAs Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Syed Shamas Haider as well as a PML Q’s Abid Ashraf Jutana who was runner-up on the PA seat and former PTI ticket holder Raja Shahnawaz in 2013 and even then the PTI won this PP seat with a very close margin.

The PTI will face difficulties to pick any one of these four main contenders for the by-poll as most of them had been promised by Mr Chaudhry that in case of his becoming Punjab chief minister, the PTI ticket for NA-67 would go to the one who actively supported him. In case of his not being picked for the top slot in the province, one of them would get the PTI ticket for PP-27 by-poll.

Mr Gondal and Mr Jutana can be front runners for the ticket whereas Mr Lilla is once again said to be PML N’s choice in the by polls.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2018