MUZAFFARGARH, May 2: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to field Akhtar Gopang for the PP-258 by-polls.

This was announced at a meeting of party’s local leadership held at a hotel here on Friday. PPP members of the National Assembly from this district, Qayyum Jatoi, Moazzam Jatoi and Jamshed Dasti, were also present.

Qayyum Jatoi had returned to the National Assembly from NA-180 and to the Punjab Assembly from PP-258. The provincial constituency fell vacant after Qayyum Jatoi decided retaining the National Assembly seat.

MNA Jamshed Dasti told Dawn that fielding Akhtar Gopang was decided by the PPP local leadership after consultation with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

However, MNA Mohsin Qureshi, who is also PPP’s district president, told Dawn that a formal announcement regarding award of party ticket to Akhtar Gopang would come after parliamentary election board’s approval in due course.

The PML-Q has not finalised any candidate for this slot while the PML-N has decided not to field anyone after an in-house arrangement with its coalition partner in the federal and provincial governments.

Former MPA Haroon Bukhari, who was the PML-Q candidate in the Feb 18 general elections, is now contesting as an independent candidate.