LAHORE, June 3: The Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) will start awarding party tickets for the October general elections immediately after the completion of hearing of the appeals against new delimitations, Mian Muhammad Azhar said on Monday.

Speaking at a consultation at the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, he said the tickets would be given in consultation with the provincial presidents and parliamentary boards. Leaders from former Faisalabad and Sargodha divisions and several district and tehsil Nazims participated in the meeting.

Rejecting as violative of the fundamental rights, the condition that the candidates should be university graduates, the PML(QA) chief predicted that no party would accept it. Seeking its immediate withdrawal, he said if the government failed to do so, the PML(QA) would take the matter to the Supreme Court.

About the possibility of forming an election alliance with other parties, he said a decision on the issue would be taken on merit. The party, he said, would rely on its own strength. In case of some adjustments, the strength of other parties would determine the seats-apportionment decisions.

According to Mian Azhar, the PML’s Nawaz faction had lost its credibility and existed on paper only.

The party’s Punjab president, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, informed the participants of the meeting about his contacts with the government. He also told them about preparations for elections and the mass-contact strategy.

He said more candidates were available to the party compared to the rivals. He also said they could win without seeking support from others.

Another such meeting will be held on Tuesday. Leaders from Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin districts will participate in the meeting.