RAWALPINDI: The ruling party is considering changing the Rawalpindi deputy mayor after the rejection of government-backed resolutions in the previous meeting of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation. According to the law, the mayor presides over the sessions of the municipal corporation. However, the responsibility was given to the deputy mayor and senior presiding officer after amending the rules. Senior Presiding Officer Sajjad Khan was given the responsibility. “Sajjad Khan ran the house quite smoothly and managed to pass all resolutions. In the last meeting Khan was not present and Deputy Mayor Sardar Naseem failed to run the house properly. He also failed to pass the resolutions of the government. Due to this, the deputy mayor is likely to be changed. Sajjad Khan is strong candidate for the post,” sources said. NA-55: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed Khan has decided to contest elections from NA-55 and 56. According to details, the AML leader has also decided to form an electoral alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Talking about the upcoming elections, he told his party workers that 2017 was the year of elections. “PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Shaikh Rasheed are the only true politicians in the country while Karachi and Rawalpindi are the only cities of politics. Commenting on the Panama leaks, he said that the coming 120 days were very crucial for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “During this time, the JIT will expose the corruption of the Nawaz League,” he said. “Even If the JIT clears Nawaz Sharif, the people of Pakistan should not lose hope because hatred against the rulers is on the rise,” he said. Referring to Indian business tycoon Sajan Jindal’s visit to Pakistan, he said that it was not the right time for backdoor diplomacy. He also criticised Hanif Abbasi, accusing him of smuggling. “Abbasi is being investigated for smuggling two tonnes of narcotics,” he said.