Daily Times

LAHORE: Following a formal seat adjustment between Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), PML senior leader and former deputy prime minister Ch Pervez Elahi has been declared joint candidate from NA-69 Gujrat, while PTI’s Ch Salim Sarwar Jaurawill be joint candidate of both the parties from PP-31 Gujrat.

The announcement was made by PML’s candidate from PP-31 Mian Imran Masood and PTI’s Ch Salim Sarwar Jaura at a joint press conference on Wednesday. From the constituency, PML candidate Ch Asghar Tail Waley has also withdrawn in favour of Salim Sarwar Jaura.

“Following seat adjustment between Ch Shujat Hussain and Imran Khan, I announce withdrawal from PP-31 Gujrat in favour of PTI’s Ch Salim Sarwar Jaura,” Mian Imran Masood said, adding that Ch Pervez Elahi will be unanimous candidate from NA-69 Gujrat. He said both the parties will jointly fight corrupt mafia throughout Pakistan, including Gujrat. “In the past too, both parties have been pursuing a joint strategy in Senate, National Assembly and provincial assembly elections,” he said, adding that unity is needed to ensure victory of ‘tractor’ and ‘bat’ in the upcoming elections. “There was a lot of pressure on me for not leaving family seat but I have taken the decision on the direction of the party leader,” he added.

Expressing gratitude to Ch Shujaat Hussain, Ch Pervez Elahi and Mian Imran Masood, PTI’s Salim Jaura said that he will work more for the victory of Elahi from NA-69 than his own. “PML and PTI will jointly establish law and order in Gujrat … we will expose corruption of Mayor Gujrat Haji Nasir before all,” he added.

Published in Daily Times, June 28^th 2018.