TOBA TEK SINGH: Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf got confused when the two panels of candidates for Gojra tehsil’s one national assembly and its allied two provincial assembly constituencies, claimed on social media that each of both panels’ candidates was originally backed by the party leadership.

When for the the first time PTI tickets were announced, Warraich group’s candidates, including Barrister Hassam Ali Warraich (son of the late former MNA Amjad Ali Warraich), were awarded tickets for NA-105. On its allied seats, his uncle Bilal Asghar Warraich (former provincial minister) and Mian Muhammad Tariq were fielded for PP-119 and PP-120, respectively.

However, a day later, a revised list was issued by PTI, and this panel was replaced by Usama Hamza (son of the late former senator M Hamza) for NA-105, and

former tehsil nazim Asad Zaman Cheema and Asif Ihsan Gujjar (son of the late former MPA Ihsanul Haq Gujjar) for PP-119 and PP-120, respectively.

After the Supreme Court verdict on election symbol ‘bat’, candidates of both panels, who were visiting rural and urban localities for their election campaign, were showing PTI voters and supporters the ticket letters issued to them on the same day, Jan 13, by the party.

Interestingly, all three candidates of one panel, including Usama Hamza and his two provincial candidates, have the same symbol- clock.

The other panel of NA candidate Barrister Hassam Ali Warraich and candidates of his both provincial seats have separate symbols. Until the PTI leadership comes up with some clarification, the confusion will continue, and it will definitely benefit the PML-N or PPP candidates.

Meanwhile, at Kamalia, former federal minister and PML-N candidate for NA-107, Asadur Rehman Ramday, and his provincial wing PP-124 ticket holder Pir Qutab Ali Baba have rejected

the party’s decision to award the PP-123 ticket to former MPA Nazia Raheel Gujjar. Addressing a PML-N workers convention at Pirmahal, they announced their support for independent aspirant Shahid Iqbal Gujjar in her place.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024