MITHI: Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf announced on Wednesday their candidates for by-election of NA-221 (Tharparkar-I) scheduled to be held on Feb 21.

PTI has awarded ticket to Nizamuddin Rahimoon and PPP to Pir Ameer Ali Shah Jilani, son of Pir Noor Mohammad Shah Jilani who died of Covid-19 on Dec 24 last year, thus causing the NA-221 seat to fall vacant.

Late Jilani had twice defeated PTI leader and current Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, first in general election of 2013 and then again in 2018 when he secured 79,098 votes and Qureshi polled 72,127.

There are as many as 17 candidates in the race for NA-221 but the real contest is expected between the candidates of PPP and PTI, the latter also enjoying support of Ghousia Jamaat, Hur Jamaat, Arbab group and parties in GDA.

Arbab Inayatullah and Arbab Liaquat Ali, son and nephew of former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, respectively, have also filed nomination papers for the seat but they will withdraw their candidatures in favour of Rahimoon on the directions of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, according to sources.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2021