GUJRANWALA, Aug 19: With the general elections are drawing nearer by the day, potential candidates of all political parties, predominantly the ruling PML and the PPP, have pushed up their efforts for the provision of party tickets of constituencies of their likeness.
According to a survey conducted by Dawn, some bigwigs of the ruling party are lobbying for NA-98 constituency while PPP stalwarts are vying for PP-91 constituency.
In the 2002 elections, deceased Chaudhry Azam Cheema of the ruling PML was the aspirant for the NA-98 seat. Now his brother Nasir Cheema (MPA) is interested in this seat.
While Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha, the PML chief of his faction and an ally of the ruling party, is also intending to contest the polls on NA-98 seat instead of NA-100 or NA-101.
The reason for his shift is obvious as incumbent federal parliamentary secretary Rana Bilal Ijaz had defeated Mr Chattha on NA-100 in the previous elections while PPP aspirant Asima Shahnawaz Cheema had also given him a tough time on NA-101 constituency.
Since NA-98 constituency falls in Qila Dedar Singh, the native town of Rana Bilal Ijaz, he is therefore keen to contest the elections for this seat instead of Naushera Virkan.
Should Mr Ijaz succeed in getting the party ticketfor NA-98, the NA-100 constituency will be clear forsitting MPA Mudasser Qayyum Nahara.
On the other hand, Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Rana Shamshad Ahmed Khan and Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Rana Shehzad Hafiz’s brother Rana Shehbaz Hafiz are also in the race for the same constituency.
The NA-98 constituency has gained an utmost importance in the entire politics of the district after some half a dozen aspirants of the ruling party have made a beeline to get the ticket.
While as many PPP candidates are in the run for getting ticket of the PP-91 seat, and among the top of the list is District Bar Association President Ilyas Rehan.
The other PPP aspirants are Rana Faisal Javed and his uncle Rana Nasir Mehmood, who enjoy the backing of party’s local leadership.
Besides, divisional president of People’s Lawyers Forum Rana Ibrar Ahmad Khan has also applied for the ticket from this constituency.
A former student leader, Ilyas Navid Shehzad and Khohlowala union council nazim Amir Farooq, brother of Khiali Town nazim, are also interested in PP-91 seat.