Hammad Azhar leaves the Lahore by-election race

LAHORE: PTI leader Hammad Azhar on Monday announced that he won’t contest the upcoming NA-129 scheduled for September 18, saying in post on X written in English, which read, “I have no desire to be a part of Form 47 parliament that is full of fake MPs.”

In an earlier message posted in Urdu, Hammad cited inability to participate in the election campaign and to take the oath even after winning the seat as the reason.

In this connection, the PTI leader, who is a fugitive in multiple May 9 cases, said his family had decided that Chaudhry Arslan Zaheer, a nephew of late Mian Muhmmad Azhar, should contest the by-election.

But Hammad said he would be in-charge of his election campaign.

However, he said the decision about Arsalan Zaheer is subjected to the PTI’s decision of not boycotting the by-elections in different constituencies after the sentencing and disqualification of party lawmakers in May 9 cases.

Imran Khan, who spending his jail term after his conviction in a graft case, has already said the PTI would boycott the by-elections.

He sees the convictions in May 9 cases unjust, but the series isn’t ending, with Omar Ayub and others sentenced yet again on Monday. The latest case pertains to the attack on the residence of Rana Sanaullah — a senior PML-N leader who is current serving as a special assistant to the prime minister.

By-election is being held in NA-129 after it fell vacant after the demise of Mian Muhammad Azhar.

REASONS

Meanwhile, the Urdu and English posts were shared on X with a gap of just three minutes.

In his English post, Hammad said “last time my 82 year old father contested, he was harassed by police, arrested and my home repeatedly smashed. As the only son and sole male heir of the family, I do not want my mother to go through another trauma.”

He said it was his mother whose instructions led him to nominate Arsalan Zaheer, as he showed his allegiance to the jailed PTI founder, saying “Imran Khan Zindabad”.

Meanwhile, the message in Urdu also reads, “There is no fake case against him [Arsalan Zaheer] from May 9 either, because he was abroad that day, which was a Saturday, and the question of forced disqualification after winning the election does not arise.”

It’s a developing story. Details to follow