BAHAWALPUR: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-backed MNA-elect from Lodhran, Rana Faraz Noon, has allegedly refused to accept an invitation by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to join the party.

Sources close to Rana Faraz say he was contacted by the some members of Gilani family from Multan, who visited the outhouse of the MNA-elect late on Sunday and offered him to join the party, also pledging to give him a ministry if the PPP formed the government in the centre.

During the visit, the sources say, some PPP stalwarts also talked to Mr Noon on telephone and tried to convince him to join the party.

However, the sources say that Mr Noon and his father flatly refused to accept the offer, saying they were bound to follow the the policy of PTI leadership.

Meanwhile, PTI-backed defeated candidate from NA-158 (Vehari), Tahir Iqbal, has accused the RO concerned of reducing his votes and adding 749 votes to PML-N candidate Begum Tehmina Daultana.

He leveled the allegation while addressing his supporters, who staged a protest demonstration outside the RO office on Monday, raising slogans against the officer.

Tahir Iqbal has announced to move court against the “rigging”.

PETITIONS: At least four PTI-backed defeated candidates filed election petitions in the high court on Monday.

According to the PTI lawyers’ wing, those, who filed petitions include; Samiullah Chaudhury (NA-168), Muhammad Asghar Joyia (PP-253), Ahmad Usman Channar (PP-254, Bahawalpur city) and Ijaz Gaddan (NA-164, Khairpur Tamewali).

The petitioners stated in their pleas that the respective ROs issued Forms-47 contrary to the entries of Form-45. They prayed to the court to order the ROs to issue the Forms-47 of their constituencies in accordance with the Form-45 entries.

DACOITY: One Muhammad Aslam of Vehari, who had recently returned from England, was allegedly deprived of jwellery and cash worth Rs3 million by four unidentified armed motorcyclists.

The incident allegedly occurred near Gaggo town when Aslam was on his way to Lahore.

Gaggo police have registered the case on his complaint against the unidentified dacoits.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2024