Tiwana, Baloch join hands against PML-N in Khushab From Hafiz Khan Muhammad Mahl JAUHARABAD: The political situation changed dramatically when former provincial minister Malik Khuda Bux Tiwana and Shuja Khan Baloch ignored their 30-year-old rivalry and formed an alliance just to defeat the PML-N candidate in NA-70. As a result of the Tiwana-Baloch alliance, Sardar Shuja Khan Baloch will contest against former MNA Malik Shakir Bashir Awan of the PML-N in NA-70. Haji Sharif Khan Baloch will challenge PML-N former MPA Malik Asif Bha in PP-41, while Malik Khuda Bux Tiwana will be a candidate against PML-N former MPA Malik Waris Kaloo in PP-42. Meanwhile, Engineer Gul Asghar Bughoor is the PTI candidate from NA-70 and PP-41, while Dr Khalid Bashir Awan is the PTI candidate in PP-42. Another impressive change is being witnessed in PP-39 where PTI’s Malik Muzamil Awan, Faisal Mali and Raja Hussain Nawaz have left the party and are evolving a consensus on fielding a joint candidate. Former MPA Malik Mukhtar Awan, an independent candidate, has also joined the camp against PTI candidate Malik Ameer Mukhtar Sanga. Pundits opine that the rebels as well as bigwigs will be able to field a joint candidate against the PTI candidate. Former federal minister Sumaira Malik and her sister Ayla Malik, granddaughters of the Nawab of Kalabagh, are contesting from NA-69 (Khushab) and PP-48 (Mianwali), respectively. However, they are contesting from different parties – the PML-N and the PTI. Malik Waris Kaloo, a banker, was elected MPA in 2002 and 2008 with the support of Malik Khuda Bux Tiwana. However, this time Tiwana asked him not to contest the elections, but he refused to do so. The candidates are taking the elections as a matter of life and death and putting in their best to win the seats. A few days ago, the political scenario took another dramatic change when the Anjuman-e-Araian announced its unconditional support for Gul Asghar Bughoor in NA-70.
