DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Chief Leghari Group of the PML-N and the Amjad Khosa Group of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), led by District Council Chairman Abdul Qadir Khosa, are supporting an independent candidate in by-election for the district vice chairman of the district council, the office fell vacant after the resignation of Ahmed Khan Leghari in July last.

In all, three candidates are contesting for the slot.

Another candidate in the run is a union council chairman from Choti Zaireen, backed by PML-N Senator Dr Hafiz Abdul Kareem and PTI’s Saifuddin Khosa and Khawja Sheraz, sources told Dawn on Wednesday.

In the general elections, then vice-chairman Ahmed Leghari from the PML-N Leghari group resigned from the slot to contest the general elections.

Elections for the vacant seat of vice-chairman will be held on February 19, and of 123 district council members, 118 will cast their vote as four members - Saif Khosa, Hiyat Buzdar, Ahmed Leghari

and Tahir Qaisrani - resigned in July to contest the general elections, while one member has been de-notified.

The three candidates in the run are: Hasnain Leghari (PTI UC chairman), Nazar Qolachi (PTI UC chairman) and Iqbal Leghari of the Chief Leghari Group-PML-N.

Hasnain Leghari told Dawn that Saif Khosa and Khawja Sheraz of the PTI while PML-N Senator Kareem were supporting him.

He claimed the Chief Leghari Group of the PM-N and the Amjad Khosa Group of the PTI were backing Iqbal Leghari.

He maintained that PTI did not award ticket to any candidate.

On other hand, Ahmed Leghari says he is waiting for court decision regarding a plea for the cancellation of his resignation.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2019