BAHAWALPUR, March 31: Electioneering for NA-190 (Bahawalnagar 111) seat has gained momentum. After the finalization of aspirants' lists and allotment of election symbols, all the six candidates have geared up canvassing in their respective areas.
With the retirement of Ms Shahida Sattar Laleka from the contest, former Chishtian tehsil Nazim and PPP deserter Tahir Cheema has an edge over other candidates, including MMA's Dr Ihsan Bari.
Dr Bari is expected to give tough time to Tahir Cheema, who will now enjoy full support of the ruling party's high-ups. Mr Cheema's nomination for the bypolls by the ruling coalition is the outcome of a deal between the government and his brother, Bahawalpur district Nazim Tariq Cheema, and former MNA Zafar Warraich of Rahim Yar Khan. They had announced their resignations from their party last month.
Interestingly, the candidates of ARD's two component parties - PML-N (Shahid Akram) and PPP Parliamentarian (Muhammad Ali Laleka) are also facing each other. Both the parties, which claimed to continue their joint struggle for the restoration of the 'real democracy', have now fielded candidates against each other as they fail to reach any mutual understanding to defeat the ruling party's candidate.
Had both the ARD component parties agreed to a joint candidate, the situation in the NA-190 could have been quite difficult for the ruling party candidate.
HARVESTING: The wheat harvesting has begun in the Bahawalpur district. It was learnt that the wheat harvesting started on Wednesday at many places in Yazman tehsil, where the land was fertile and the crop was ready in several areas for harvesting.
The harvesting of crop in other parts of the district is also expected within a couple of days.
LIFE-TERM: The Anti-Terrorism Court on Wednesday handed down life-term to two accused in an abduction for ransom case.
The judge also ordered the confiscation of the property of both the convicts, besides directing the police to arrest their six accomplices. According to the prosecution, convicts Ijaz Ahmad and Liaquat Ali alias Liaqo had abducted shopkeeper Nasir Ali of Ahmedpur Lamma for ransom last year.
ARRESTED: At least 16 Bangladeshi nationals, who allegedly crossed over Pakistan territory from India, were handed over on Wednesday to the Fort Abbas police by Ranger officials.
