Ex-governor Sarwar canvassing for PPP Senate candidate from Punjab: report

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Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, former governor of Punjab who has recently joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and has been included in the party’s top political committee, is reportedly canvassing for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to persuade Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members in the Punjab Assembly to vote for the PPP Senate candidate from the province, Nadeem Afzal Chan.
According to a media report, Chaudhry Sarwar is focusing primarily on the MPAs from Faisalabad division, which is also his native town.
Sarwar first approached those MPAs who had received the PML-N ticket in the May 2013 general elections through his good offices. During the 2013 polls, Sarwar had assisted PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in awarding party tickets to candidates, particularly from Faisalabad Division.
All Faisalabad and Gujranwala lawmakers and women MPAs have been placed in the panels reserved to vote for the PML-N’s two candidates from Karachi – Nihal Hashmi and Saleem Zia.
The MPAs said they were surprised when they received a call from Sarwar urging them to vote for the PPP’s candidate. Sarwar urged the MPAs that being Punjabi, they should support a Punjabi even if he belongs to another political party.
One of the MPAs from Vehari reportedly said that Sarwar invited him to dinner where he found other PML-N MPAs. He said he thanked Sarwar for his favour but politely excused from fulfilling his desire.
Chaudhry Sarwar did not attend the phone when he was called for his version.
The PTI has boycotted the Senate election from Punjab and its 30 MPAs will not be casting their votes.
The PPP, which has only eight MPAs in Punjab Assembly, has fielded Nadeem Afzal Chan. PML-N is hopeful to get all 11 seats of Senate from Punjab.
According to the report, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif has been assigned the task to counter Sarwar’s aggressive efforts. Hamza Shahbaz will arrange two major dinners, in which all the 312 PML-N MPAs will be invited.

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