GUJRAT: The Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz has demanded NA 75 Daska (Sialkot) re-election on April 10 or at least before the start of holy month of Ramzan.

PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi, however, says though he is ready to go for election, it may not be wise to go for it during Covid-19 pandemic’s third wave.

Speaking to Dawn after the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the ECP decision of a re-election in NA 75 on Friday, Nosheen Iftikhar, the candidate of PML-N, said repoll in the 360 polling stations should be held as per the earlier date of April 10 or just before the start of Ramazan. Delay would give more time to the ruling party to complete the projects in a bid to influence the voters, she said.

She said the party had planned to hold a consultative meeting of the local chapter in Daska on Saturday (today) at party’s election hall to discuss the action plan in the constituency.

Soon after reaching her native village Allu Mahar Sharif near Daska, she went straight to the grave of her father Syed Iftikharul Hassan alias Zehri Shah, former MNA after whose death the NA 75 had fallen vacant around nine months ago. She said that pitching her as a candidate for bypolls had been the decision of her mother.

Asked if he was in favour of repoll on April 10, Mr Malhi of PTI said there was a lockdown in the country due to Covid-19 under which corner meetings, rallies and campaigns would not be possible.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2021