Daily Times

After Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan’s announcemnet that he would retain NA-95 Mianwali seat, the party has started considering names for candidates to be fielded in bypolls in four constituencies that get vacant after Khan’s resignation.

In Karachi, Imran Khan got elected from NA-243.

Some of the names that are floating within the party circles for possible contestants in the by-polls are Rashid Godil, Subhan Ali Sahil, Ashraf Qureshi, and Alamgir Khan.

Godil, who abandoned MQM-P and joined the PTI ahead of the elections, is reportedly trying to get the ticket after his name was turned down for the governer’s position.

Sahil was among the party leaders who had reservations on the ticket distribution process, and could be considered for the by-poll to ensure that it remains loyal to the party.

Qureshi has been a party worker in the city for many years. However, the strongest candidate appears to Alamgir Khan of the Fixit fame. Khan is known for the campaign he started to cover the city’s manholes. He would draw an image of the then chief minister Qaim Ali Shah with a message written on the road saying that it was his job that he wasn’t performing.

Alamgir, who was the chief polling agent of PTI in NA-243, recently made a statement claiming that he would contest the by-polls after Imran Khan vacates the seat.

Published in Daily Times, August 3^rd 2018.