CHAKWAL: The PML-Q has a clear shot at winning in NA-65, Chakwal-II, after PML-N candidate Sardar Faiz Tamman unexpectedly withdrew his candidature.

PML-Q candidate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, who had the support of the PTI, won from this constituency with 157,497 votes against Mr Tamman’s 106,081.

Mr Elahi also won a National Assembly seat in his native Gujrat but gave up both for the office of speaker Punjab Assembly.

The PML-Q then decided to field Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain for the by-elections in NA-65 but after “dialogues” with Sardar Faiz Tamman, it was decided that Chaudhry Shujaat’s son, Chaudhry Salik Hussain will contest the elections instead.

The withdrawal of Mr Tamman’s candidature has left local PML-N leaders surprised.

Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference Sunday evening at the Talagang Press Club, former PML-N MPA Malik Shehryar Awan said the withdrawal of Mr Tamman’s candidature was “shocking and unfortunate”.

“The PML-N gave Faiz Tamman a new political life when he was awarded the party ticket for the 2018 general elections even though he was not active in politics for the last eight years,” Mr Awan said.

He regretted that Mr Tamman had betrayed the party and the people of the area and that the party had not fielded a covering candidate.

“Our mistake was blindly trusting Sardar Faiz Tamman,” he said, adding that Mr Tamman was in contact with him till a few days ago.

“When the election schedule was announced, I asked him if he was ready to contest the election and he said he was. Because he was the runner up in the general elections, the party thought it was his right to contest again,” he added.

He said the party will not support any other candidate in the upcoming by-election scheduled for Oct 14.

Sardar Faiz Tamman told Dawn his decision was a “strategic retreat” which will be helpful for the area.

“No one was supporting me in the campaign and many leading political figures have left the party. A few days ago, PML-N leader Malik Falak Sher Awan called to say he will not be able to support me in the election campaign,” he said, adding that he did not have the means to contest on his own.

“The Chaudhrys of Gujrat promised they will do the best for the development of the area, which is what I want,” he said, adding that he will like to take part in the upcoming local bodies’ elections.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2018