FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate for NA-109, Mian Abdul Mannan, lost his temper and used objectionable language when some of the voters raised the issue of their demand for a new graveyard in the constituency, local media reports have informed.
According to witnesses, when a voter, in a corner meeting, asked Mannan what he had done for getting approved of land for a new graveyard in the constituency, the PML-N candidate claimed nobody informed him about the issue and that he had no knowledge on the matter.
Another voter at the meeting said the residents of the area were facing problems in burying the dead as locals in Manawala were not allowing them burials in the old graveyard.
After a few more questions on the matter, Mannan lost his temper and used objectionable language. He categorically told the voters that whether they wanted to vote for him or not was their own preference. He, however, said he would try to get them a new graveyard soon.
The constituency is dominated by Arain, Rajpoot, Dogar, Kamoka and Malik clans, while there were also a good number of Christian voters in the area.
According to locals, some union council chairmen were also not happy with Mannan and had even attempted to launch a campaign against the PML-N candidate. They alleged that Mannan had always ditched the party workers when they needed his support.
Meanwhile, because of his differences with Mian Mannan, former PML-N MPA Sheikh Ijaz, who is contesting from PP-114 on the party ticket, was running his campaign separately.
Mannan had won the last general elections from NA-83 (now NA-109).
A supporter of Mannan alleged that a “conspiracy was being hatched against Mannan because of his obvious victory in the coming elections”. He said Mannan had rendered “unprecedented services” for the people of the constituency.
He said Mannan’s rivals had tried to pressurise the party leadership into denying him the ticket but he was nominated because of his work in the constituency and loyalty.