DERA GHAZI KHAN City News

Tough contest expected in PP-240 DG Khan by-polls today

From Hasnain Qaisrani

Independent candidate Khawaja gets better response in public meetings, thin attendance

in PML-N candidate Mumtaz Qaisrani

DERA GHAZI KHAN: A tough contest is expected between PML-N candidate Sardar Mumtaz Ahmad Bhutto Qaisrani and independent candidate Khawaja Muhammad Daud Sulemani in the PP-240 Dera Ghazi Khan by-elections to be held here on Thursday (today).

A number of PML-N senators, MNAs and MPAs conductive massive campaign in the constituency for their candidate but still they could not get the desired response. A thin attendance in public gatherings shows that the PML-N candidate could not be successful in getting attention from the public. Prime Minister Monitor Team’s in-charge Senator Saud Majeed started the campaign of Qaisrani just two days before the polls while MNA of the constituency Sardar Amjad Farooq remained totally silent during the election campaign. On the other hand, independent candidate Khawaja Daud got better response from the people especially in corner meetings and rallies. Despite the fact that Khawaja failed in getting success after 1988 and 1994 elections, he continued his efforts and remained in contact with his voters in his constituency. Some analysts believe that Mir Badshah Qaisrani group would support Sardar Abdul Qadir Khan Khosa to support Leghari group candidate Sardar Muhammad Khan Leghari. Local analysts believe that the by-elections would favour MNA Sardar Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa as he was ready to support Mumtaz Qaisrani on the demand to support his son Sardar Abdul Qadir Khan Khosa in the elections of the Zila Council chairman, which was accepted by former MPA Sardar Mir Badshah Qaisrani. Another independent candidate Sardar Imam Bakhsh Qaisrani, earlier supported by the JUI-F, faced heavy dent when his party leadership announced to support the PML-N candidate on Tuesday night. The sources quoting Sardar Imam Bakhsh Qaisrani said that if the party had decided to support the PML-N candidate, this should had been decided earlier rather than just a couple of days before the by-polls. It is pertinent to mention here that the by-elections are being held after the Supreme Court of Pakistan maintained the judgment of the Election Tribunal which disqualified MPA Shamoona Ambreen Qaisrani for concealing her assets. The petition was filed by Khawaja Daud who had lost the polls with a very narrow margin.