Rawalpindi’s NA-55, 56 await fierce electoral battles

As election campaign gains momentum‚ two constituencies from Rawalpindi- NA-55 and NA-56 -will attract attention as Imran Khan‚ Sheikh Rashid‚ Ali Ahmad Kurd and other former MNAs from the area are in the run.
Supreme Court Bar Association former president Ali Ahmad Kurd intends to contest elections from NA-55 apart from two constituencies, NA-250 and NA-259, in Balochistan.
Kurd said he had an emotional attachment with Rawalpindi because he had remained in Adiala Jail during the movement for restoration of judges.
Replying to a question, he said he will field his candidature as an independent candidate and is not seeking ticket from any political party. He said unlike others‚ he plans not to spend a single penny on his election campaign to show that elections can be contested without pouring out money.
Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said he would contest elections from both Rawalpindi constituencies on the basis of his past services to the people of the city.
Responding to a question, he said the evolving political situation in these constituencies was interesting as stalwarts of some parties intended to contest elections from there. He‚ however‚ expressed confidence that people would make a choice on the basis of performance. On Kurd’s decision to contest from NA-55‚ Sheikh Rashid said everyone had the right to contest from wherever they wanted.
He said so far the Election Commission of Pakistan was doing a good job but fair elections would be possible only if there was a bureaucratic reshuffle in the country.