Daily Times

Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani, former member of the National Assembly and son of veteran politician Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, was on Friday declared unopposed candidate from PS-06 Kashmore.

According to local sources and a public notice viral on the social media, Mir Shabbir Ali Bijarani, a candidate of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from PS-06 Kashmore-III, was elected uncontested under Section 75(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, after nomination papers of his rival candidate Pir Abdul Qayum were rejected both by the returning officer and the election tribunal Sukkur. He is the first victorious lawmaker of the 2018 general elections in the country.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), if any candidate is contesting unopposed, a public notice of the candidate’s win is issued. However, the notification regarding the victory will be issued after the July 25 elections. Interestingly, Bijarani had earlier announced parting ways with the PPP and joining the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). However, it was later reported that he had rejoined the PPP and settled his differences following a meeting with party Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad.

Published in Daily Times, June 30^th 2018.