LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will be contesting the by-poll in NA-65 (Chakwal-II) constituency that would be vacated by his cousin, Chaudhry Pervaiz Ilahi, who has won two National Assembly seats on PML-Q’s ticket.
According to a statement issued by the party, the NA-65 seat was first offered to Sardar Mumtaz Tamman, who was of the view that it was important for Shujaat to be a part of the parliament.
Ilahi has decided to retain NA-69 (Gujrat-II) while a by-poll will now be held on NA-65 as one individual can only hold a single seat according to the rules. The move will reduce PML-Q’s seat tally in the lower house of the parliament to three, unless Shujaat wins the seat back for the party.
Ilahi had been able to win NA-65 because of Sardar Mumtaz Tamman’s support, who sided with the Chaudhrys after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) overlooked him to award the ticket for the constituency to his nephew, Faiz Tamman.