MULTAN: Differences have emerged within the Khaki family to get the PTI ticket for PP-222 where the by-election is going to be held on Oct 14 as the widow and a nephew of the late MPA Malik Ghulam Abbas Khaki have submitted their nomination papers.

The seat fell vacant after Khaki died on Aug 14 before taking oath as an MPA. His widow and a nephew are claiming to be the actual political heir of the late MPA and demanding the PTI ticket.

Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon who won NA-159 under which PP-222 falls on the PTI ticket is making efforts to get the party ticket for his brother Rana Sohail Noon who contested the general election on the PTI ticket from PP-221 but lost the seat to Rana Ejaz Ahmed Noon of the PML-N.

Shazia Abbas Khaki, the widow of Mr Khaki, told journalists that she was hopeful that the PTI leadership while keeping in view merit would award its ticket to her.

“Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Jahangir Khan Tareen should get me elected unopposed as they got elected Awais Dreshak, the brother of the late Tariq Dreshak, from Rajanpur,” she said. She said she would work to solve the issues of the people of Jalalpur Pirwala.

“Jalalpur Pirwala which was once the stronghold of the PML-N is now considered the PTI area due to years’ long tireless efforts of my husband. The PTI under the leadership of Imran Khan will also do justice with the family of Mr Khaki and will award its ticket to me,” she said. She said the Khaki family and all notables who supported her husband in the general election are now supporting her.

Malik Ahmed Abbas Khaki, the nephew and son-in-law of Mr Khaki, said his uncle brought him into politics one and a half years ago. He said he considered the sons of his late uncle the actual political heirs but he would look after the political affairs of the family until they grow up.

He said a “small group” in the family always opposed Mr Khaki in politics and now they are supporting his wife to create differences.

“My another uncle Raza Abbas withdrew in my favour,” he said. He said 11 of the 18 union council chairmen are from Khaki and Rana Qasim Group and they refused to support Mrs Khaki. PTI sources said although both Mr Qureshi and Mr Tareen were in favour of the widow of Khaki, a final decision would be taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Mehdi Abbas Langah who lost the constituency to Khaki in the general election is again the candidate of the PML-N while the PPP has yet to announce its candidate.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2018