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ISLAMABAD, March 15: By-election for a National Assembly seat from Dera Ghazi Khan has been put off once again, this time for 48 hours only.
According to an announcement, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza postponed the by-election in NA-172, scheduled for March 24, on a request from the crisis management cell of the interior ministry, re-fixing it for March 26.The cell had sought postponement after fears were expressed for sectarian attacks on the activities relating to the Urs of Hazrat Sakhi Ahmad Sultan commonly known as Sakhi Sarwar Lalan Wala. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of former president Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari.
The by-election was originally scheduled for December 14, 2010, but was put off indefinitely on the grounds that some contesting candidates had proceeded abroad to perform Haj and could not file nomination papers. Another major reason given was Punjab home department's request for re-scheduling of by-elections due to the engagement of law-enforcing agencies in providing security at religious events during Muharram-ul-Haram.
A revised schedule was announced the day Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited D.G. Khan for the first time after assuming the coveted office.
As many as 15 candidates are in the run, including Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari of PML-Q, Hafiz Abdul Kareem of PML-N and Sardar Shabbir Ahmad Khan Leghari of PPP.
The JUI-F candidate, Maulana Mohammad Iqbal Rasheed, has already announced support for the PML-Q candidate who happens to be the son of the late former president.
The constituency is believed to be a stronghold of the Legharis and Sardar Farooq Leghari had a history of winning elections with a comfortable majority. But during the previous general election he managed to get a majority of only 5,000 votes.
