Benazir to decide NA-187 candidate

Published December 3, 2002

BAHAWALPUR, Dec 2: PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto will herself decide the candidate for the byelection on NA-187 (Bahawalpur-five) seat being vacated by PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan.

This was stated by District Nazim and PPP leader Tariq Cheema while talking to Dawn here on Monday.

He said Aitzaz Ahsan was elected MNA from Bahawalpur and Lahore and that he would surrender his Bahawalpur seat in a few days.

There was no truth in the false propaganda that he had offered defeated PML-Q candidate Syeda Abida Hussain to contest the byelection from this seat, he said.

As regards the candidature of Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi who was defeated by National Alliance’s Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada in NA-186, he said Mr Gardezi was not within the fold of the PPP and this could obstruct the awarding of ticket to him.

It may be recalled that in October elections, Mr Cheema had supported Mr Gardezi (PML-Q) in NA-186.

RELEASED: At least 28 prisoners of borstal jail involved in minor offences were released on Monday after their cases were reviewed by an additional sessions judge.

Of them, three prisoners belong to Lodhran.

REVISED BUDGET: The local Tehsil Council on Monday passed its revised budget of over Rs190 million for the current fiscal year.

A sum of Rs120 million has been earmarked for the uplift projects while Rs250,000 each will be used by Naib Nazimeen of the remaining 18 union councils, tehsil councillors and female members for the completion of development projects in their respective areas.

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