GUJRAT: The PML-N has awarded ticket to Chaudhry Mushahid Raza for NA-85 (Mandi Bahauddin-Phalia).

Mr Raza is a businessman from the US who belongs to Chelianwala village of Mandi Bahauddin district and is a friend of retired Capt Safdar, the son-in-law of the party’s Quaid Nawaz Sharif.

This time the party has not fielded the former federal minister, Mumtaz Ahmed Tarrar, who according to sources, had excused himself from contesting the poll and recommended his nephew for a PML-N ticket. However, the leadership did not agree to the idea, considering his nephew a “weak candidate”.

Mr Raza is said to be a fast friend and business partner of retired Capt Safdar and has no political credentials.

The party has also not awarded tickets to its two outgoing MPAs from Mandi Bahauddin district – Shafqat Mehmood Gondal of Malakwal and Akhter Bosal, a cousin of ex-MNA Nasir Iqbal Bosal. Instead, Sikandar Gondal has been given the ticket for PP-67 (Malakwal), whereas Pir Mehfooz Shah Mashhadi, also an ex-MPA of the party, has been fielded in PP-68 instead of Mr Bosal as the number of PA seats in the district has been reduced from five to four.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2018