GUJAR KHAN, Sept 27: The former Punjab minister and PML-N provincial vice-president, Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz, has staged a comeback in his constituency to boost the morale of his son, a candidate for PP-3.

An accountability court had declared the five time MPA and one time MNA from Gujar Khan proclaimed offender for not appearing in the court in a NAB reference. But, he got interim bail before arrest from the Lahore High Court and appeared on the political scene of Gujar Khan on Thursday night.

Mr Riaz had gone abroad after the dismissal of the Nawaz Sharif government by the army two years back. He had filed his nomination papers through his attorney which was rejected by the returning officer, Nazir Tahir.

Raja Jawaid Ikhlas, former MPA and the sitting Naib Nazim Rawalpindi district, has parted ways with Nawaz Sharif and after falling victim to graduation clause has also fielded his son Raja Asim Jawaid as PML-Q candidate, for PP-4 seat which he had been holding since 1985.

The absence of Mr Riaz from Gujar Khan, and the division in PML-N ranks were being taken for granted by the PPP candidates who could not fix their feet here after the fall of the late ZAB government.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the PPP general-secretary, along with his team — Tariq Kiani for PP-3 and Brig M. Hassan for PP-4 — was enjoying smooth sailing so far in the electioneering against PML-N and PML-QA due to the absence of substantial resistance from his rivals.

The sudden come back of Chaudhry Riaz may perturb the PML-N rivals. According to the political pundits the PML-N electioneering in Gujar Khan was lacklustre so far and the return of the senior Chaudhry Riaz on Thursday night electrified the workers and the voters. His return may create any upset in the elections.

The independent candidate Chaudhry Iftikhar Warsi of Bewal has also gained sufficient mileage while banking on the potential support extended to him by Prof Rafique Ahmed Akhtar on behalf of the Kashmiri community here.

Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, NA-51, Raja Asim Jawaid Ikhlas, PP- 4 and Chaudhry Jawaid Kauser are also making hectic efforts to sway the voters while cruising across unsmooth pathways.

On the other side, the local managers of PAT have stepped up their efforts after the visit of Dr Tahirul Qadri some days back and they have given a unique but modern touch to their hustling by putting on display the speeches of their leader in the villages and towns with the help of mobile projectors and videos.