Zafar Warraich likely to join PML-QA

By Qamar Jabbar

LAHORE: Zafar Iqbal Warraich, who resigned his National Assembly seat due to differences with the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians leadership, is likely to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam and contest the by-election on the ruling party’s ticket, sources told Daily Times here on Tuesday.

Mr Warraich is likely to join the PML-QA formally at a meeting addressed by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in Jamaldin Wali, Rahim Yar Khan district today (Wednesday).

After Mr Warraich’s resignation, the PML-QA has become stronger in NA-196 constituency (Bahawalpur Division), as Mr Elahi and PPPP-Patriots Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad were elected as Punjab Assembly members from PP-291and PP-292 constituencies, which fall under NA-196.

Rahim Yar Khan was the PPP’s stronghold till the 1997 elections, but the Punjab chief minister contested from here in the 2002 general elections and campaigned against the PPP and PML-Nawaz. The PPPP and PML-QA won three National Assembly seats each from Rahim Yar Khan in the 2002 elections.

Sources said Rahim Yar Khan District Nazim Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mehmood also belonged to the PML-QA and Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad played a major role in Mr Warraich’s resignation. Mr Warraich refused to join the PPPP-Patriots and has set a new trend for parliamentarians by resigning from his National Assembly seat to contest again in the by-elections on a PML-QA ticket.

Sources said the PML-N leadership also asked Mr Warraich to join the party and contest the by-election on a Nawaz ticket, but Mr Warraich refused.

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