GUJRAT: The PML-N has gained much-needed support of an ex-MPA for its by-poll candidate for PP-27 (Pind Daden Khan, Khewra, Lilla, Jalalpur Sharif) in Jhelum district.

The seat was vacated by PTI leader (now federal minister for information) Fawad Chaudhry to retain NA-67 (Jhelum).

Ex-MPA Nazar Muhammad Gondal, who had backed Fawad Chaudhry in the constituency in July 25 general elections, has formally announced his support for Haji Nasir Lilla, the PML-N candidate for the by-poll.

Mr Gondal was twice elected as an MPA from PP-27. He had won in 2002 as a PML-Q nominee and in 2013 as a PML-N candidate. However, he did not contest the 2018 general elections and supported Mr Chaudhry.

According to local sources, Gondal had been assured of PTI ticket for the by-poll in PP-27 by Mr Chaudhry but the party nominated Raja Shahnawaz from the constituency. This might have annoyed Gondal, resulting in his parting of ways with Fawad Chaudhry, they added.

It is learnt that Gondal had held a meeting with PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz in Lahore A few days ago where his reservations were addressed and he assured him of his support in the by-poll.

Jhelum district PML-N president Haji Boota Javed told Dawn that Mr Gondal had been actively campaigning for the party nominee Nasir Lilla. He said Malik Shaukat, who was a candidate of the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from PP-26 (Jhelum) in July 25 election was also supporting the PML-N candidate. Mr Shaukat is a former chairman of the Chutala union council that was a part of PP-27.

In July 25 general election Fawad Chaudhry of PTI had defeated PML-N’s Lilla by a thin margin of 1,766 votes.

The TLP has fielded no candidate for the by-poll. TLP’s Raja Farooq had bagged 15,133 votes that had hit the PML N’s position at that time. On the other hand, the PTI’s candidate has an obvious advantage of belonging to the party that rules the province as well as in the centere.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2018