KHANEWAL:Election activities gained momentum in PP-206 bye polls scheduled for Dec 16 in Khanewal on Wednesday, a day after Returning Officer Tanweer ul Hassan allotted symbols to all the thirteen contesting candidates including nine independents.
Parties’ ticket holding candidates and independents have started moving from door to door and holding corner meetings to convince people vote for them and the activity is gaining momentum by each passing day for a seat that was left vacant following the demise of MPA Nishat Ahmad Khan Daha.
The RO allotted ‘Bat’ symbol to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Naureen Nishat Daha, Tiger’s symbol to PML-N candidate Rana Muhammad Saleem Hanif, ‘Árrow’ to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Mir Wasiq Barjais Haidar, and ‘Crane’ symbol to Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) candidate Sheikh Muhammad Akmal.
The election symbols allotted to nine independent candidates included Mahr Imran Pervaiz Dhool (Sheep), Rana Waseem Hanif (Knife), Mahr Manzoor Dehar (Fan), Sheikh Muhammad Imran (Apple), Sara Khan (Bull), Rana Irfan Mahmood (Pitcher), Ghulam Ghaus (Ice Cream), Rana Farman mahmood (Goat) and Muhammad Suleman (Pail).
Tough contest is expected in the PP-206 bye elections. Initially Masud Majeed Khan Daha, the nephew of late MPA Nishat Khan Daha, was preparing to contest bye polls. However, later, late Daha’s widow, Naureen Nishat Khan Daha was issued the PTI ticket. She is considered to be a stronger candidate from PTI platform for having influence over Dehar family she belonged to in addition to the Daha family and its vote bank. People are also expected to extend support and give sympathy vote to her due to recent death of her husband late MPA Nishat Khan Daha.
Rana Muhammad Saleem Hanif, a PML-N nominee, is also a good candidate and tough fight is expected between him and PTI candidate Naureen Nishat Khan Daha. However, political observers opined that PTI candidate seemed better placed in PP-206 bye polls particularly after Jamat Islami did not field its candidate and decided to support TLP nominee.