By-Elections: NA-59, NA-229 polls on Aug 18
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Polling in the two constituencies of the National Assemble, which have been vacated by a lady from Attock in Punjab and a man from Tharparker in Sindh to field Shaukat Aziz as the candidate of the ruling faction of the PML with an eventual aim to crown the bureaucrat-turned-political as the the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been scheduled for 18th of the next month.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has already announced the schedule for bye-elections for NA-229 (Tharparker-I) and NA-59 (Attock-III) and polling in these constituencies on August-18.

These two seats have been vacated due to resignations of Arbab Zakaullah MNA from NA-229, (Tharparkar) and Mrs. Eman Waseem MNA from NA 59, (Attock).

They vacated their seats for Finance Minister and PM-designate Shaukat Aziz so that he could contest election on these seats to be a member of the National Assembly which is a pre-requisite for being the Prime Minister.

Opposition to Field Joint Candidate

As reported by Pakistan's first independent daily web newspaper, 'Pakistan Times' in its edition on Sunday, amid a fresh political scenario in the offing, which is to seek a new Prime Minister for Pakistan, if and when the bureaucrat-turned-politician Shaukat Aziz wins a bye-election in either of the two constituencies, the Opposition aired an overt and comprehensive strategy Saturday to contest, prima facie, by fielding a joint candidate clutch the apex slot.

Shaukat, an economic expert by profession and a former banker is at present a member of the upper house, the Senate and a senior minister with portfolio of finance for the last several years despite the change in the office of the premier with the most recent episode, the resignation from the premiership by a chieftain of a Baluch tribe, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali who made an affluent industrialist from Punjab, Chauhary Shujaat Hussain as his [Jamali’s] successor only a few days ago.

As Pakistan’s constitution does not have a proviso to enable a Senator to become the Prime Minister of the country, any-one wishing to take up this apex status is ought to become a member of the National Assembly, at the outset and as a must. That-is-why, Shaukat Aziz is going for the bye-election at two seats, one relinquished by a lady MNA from Attock in Punjab and the other by man who hails from a remote vicinity of Tharparker in Sindh.

Opposition Unveils Plan

With such a political setting on the political horizons of Pakistan, the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said in Peshawar Saturday that the religio-political alliance titled as the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal [MMA] would like to field a joint candidate with Alliance for Restoration of Democracy [ARD] against the federal finance minister, Shaukat Aziz contesting for Premiership.

Talking to journalists, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said that the ARD chief,Makhdoom Amin Fahim has already been contacted and added that joint candidates would be put up in both the constituencies, from where, Shaukat Aziz is to contest elections to assume as the next Prime Minister.

Briefing on Wana

The Prime Minister, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has expressed his desire to brief MMA leaders on Wana situation and, for this purpose Chaudhry Shujaat contacted him and Qazi Hussain Ahmad separately.

Maulana Fazlur Rahjman told that MMA leaders after consultations among themselves would be deciding about the time for briefing.

Replying to a question, he said, “He endorses the registration of foreigners but peaceful means should be adopted for this purpose.”

Shaukat to file Nomination Papers on July-6/7

Meanwhile, credible sources says that the federal Minister of Finance Shaukat Aziz will submit his nomination papers on July 6 and 7.

Talking to newsmen after a gathering of the ruling faction of the Pakistan Muslim League [PML] Secretary General Mushahid Hussain said Shaukat Aziz would file his nomination papers from Attock on July 6 and from Tharparkar on July 7.

Earlier, a parliamentary party meeting of the party was held in Islamabad with Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in chair. The meeting vowed to get elected Shaukat Aziz on the two National Assembly seats, on which he will contest.

Bye-elections’ Schedule

At the same time, the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Irshad Hassan Khan has announced bye-elections schedule for the National Assembly constituencies NA 59 Attock III and NA 229 Tharparkar.

Nominations for the election could be submitted from July 6 to 8. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on July 9 and 10. The appeals could be filed till July 14, which would be decided on July 19.

The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers would be July-20, while the final list of candidates would be released on July-21.

Polling for bye-elections will be held on August-18.●