GUJRANWALA, Sept 14: Two factions of the PML in Hafizabad struck a deal on the intervention of Punjab chief minister to support each others’ candidate in the district and tehsil nazim election. The groups are led by MNA Chaudhry Mehdi Hasan Bhatti and Pindi Bhattian former tehsil nazim Anser Abbas Bhatti.
They said at a joint press conference here on Wednesday they had eliminated their differences on the appeal of the chief minister.
They claimed the ruling party candidates for the district and tehsil nazims would sweep the polls.
WITHDRAWAL: Two candidates for the district nazim’s office, including the MMA nominee, withdrew their papers on Wednesday.
MMA’s Maulana Ayub Tufani and Afzal Goraya withdrew their papers leaving four contestants.
However, a close contest is expected between ruling party’s Fiaz Ahmad Chattha, former district nazim and son of MNA Hamid Nasir Chattha, and ARD’s Abdullah Virk. The scrutiny of nomination papers will begin on Thursday (today).
RE-POLLING: Reelection in Khiali Shahpur UC will be held on Thursday (today).
Polling was suspended following firing incident, death of a man and setting the vehicle of a judicial magistrate to fire on Aug 18.
Meanwhile, the district administration and police completed necessary arrangement on Wednesday to hold the polling.
beaten up: A bus driver was thrashed and injured on Wednesday by the alleged accomplices of national highway toll contractor on GT Road in Ghakkhar Town for non-payment of tax.
Reports said a bus was on its way to Rawalpindi from Faisalabad. Near Ghakkhar Town, the contractor’s men intercepted the vehicle and asked driver Nazir to pay Rs20 toll. On his refusal, they allegedly started beating him up. On this, he blocked the GT Road by parking his vehicle.
Later, the Motorway police reached the spot, restored traffic after half an hour and assured the bus driver that action would be taken against the contractor and his men.
Meanwhile, transporters have protested against the ‘illegal’ recovery of toll by the contractor who is said to be a close relative of the provincial transport minister.