BAHAWALPUR: Former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema has reestablished his previous connection with his former associates, Dr. Muhammad Afzal and Chaudhry Ehsanul Haq, both former Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs).
This move is set to fortify his position against PML-N candidates in NA-165, PP-247, and PP-248.
Both Dr. Afzal and Mr. Haq, who were elected as MPAs alongside Mr. Cheema (as MNA) in 2018 under the PML-Q banner, had later sided with Mr. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi after the split within the PML-Q following the no-confidence motion against the PTI government in 2022. This resulted in the termination of their ties with Mr. Cheema, and since then, both former MPAs had been pursuing separate political paths.
Mr. Haq filed his nomination papers for PP-247, while Mr. Cheema submitted his nomination papers for NA-165. Interestingly, the PML-N did not field any candidate against Mr. Cheema in NA-165, leading PML-N’s Chaudhry Saood Majid to run as an independent candidate. There are claims by close associates of Mr. Majid that the PML-N high command has assured him a PML-N ticket for the Senate election in March. However, the PML-N granted tickets to Khalid Jajja and Saood Majid’s nephew Saad Masood for PP-247 and PP-248. Mr. Cheema and his son Wali Dad Cheema are contesting in NA-165 and PP-247 (Yazman).
By re-establishing ties with Dr. Afzal, along with his uncle Chaudhry Abdul Jabbar (former chairman of the Yazman MC), Mr. Cheema has strategically positioned himself for political advantage.
It was learned that Mr. Cheema had discussions with Mr. Jabbar, Dr. Afzal, and Mr. Haq at Mr. Jabbar’s residence on Wednesday night. They have now declared complete support for Mr. Cheema and his son in the upcoming elections.
In another development, Samiullah Chaudhry, a PTI candidate for NA-168 (Bahawalpur city), claims that the Lahore High Court’s larger bench has declared him eligible to contest the February 8 election. In a video statement posted on social media, the former PTI minister, who is currently in hiding, urged his party members and workers to continue campaigning for him. Official circles confirmed to Dawn that the larger bench has ruled in Samiullah’s favor, but the written judgment is still awaited. Earlier, the LHC’s larger bench had also declared PTI district president Asghar Joyia eligible to contest for PP-253 (Bahawalpur city).
