Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: The candidate of PML-N and former MPA, Sardar Naseem Ahmed, has been elected as the 7th Mayor of Rawalpindi unopposed, while the elected Chairman of Union Council 13 Tariq Mehmood Khan, will be the Deputy Mayor of the city.

This was announced by the Returning Officer, Dr Tahir, on the occasion of filing the nomination papers as no other candidate submitted his papers against Sardar Naseem Ahmed and Tariq Mehmood Khan, till the expiry of the dead line.

After the announcement was made, the workers of the PML-N chanted slogans in favour of the mayor elect as well as the central leadership of the party. The newly elected Mayor, Sardar Naseem, spoke to the party workers. He said that it was the result of the trust in him that was shown by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan in him.

Later while talking to the media, Sardar Naseem said that the people of Rawalpindi had granted back the mandate to the PML-N in the 2015 local government polls which was stolen in the 2013 general elections. Afterwards the PML-N also won cent per cent reserved seats in the local bodies polls. He said that the victory was made possible with the coordinated efforts of the party’s workers and leadership, who have proved once again that Rawalpindi is the strong hold of the PML-N.

“I would develop the city with the consultation of the people from all walks of life and for this purpose I need the special guidance of the media.. When I would take oath of my office on December 31, we would not be not required to speak much, but then our performance would say more and in a much louder tone”, he added

He gave a two-point agenda for the city by saying that clean, clear and encroachment free Rawalpindi would be his top priority. He said that he would remove all the encroachments to make the flow of traffic incessant on the roads of the city.

He said that instead of giving any deadline, he would work for the betterment of the city and bring the development work to its logical end.

He said that Rawalpindi Solid Waste Management Company, under its Chairman MPA Raja Hanif, is already working in a befitting manner.

Similarly the projects of education and healthcare facilities are also going on at a satisfactory pace.