OKAR A: Independent MNA Chaudhry Riazul Haq Juj said despite being contacted by the prime minister and Pakistan Tehreelei-Insaf leaders, after consultations with voters, supporters and family elders, he has decided not to join any political party before the local bodies elections.

He said during the NA-144 by-election, all local bodies aspiring candidates supported him except those of the PML-N. If he joined a political party, he would lose his strength in the constituency as PML-N candidates hadlowered their political value in the city and rural areas.

The MNA`s uncle and president of the Okara Chamber of Commerce and Industries, retired Flt Lt Chaudhry Arshad Iqbal, said voters had elected Juj as an independent candidate and his family could not leave the constituency `unsheltered`. They brushed aside as baseless news reports of Juj joining a party to gain ministerial status or him agreeing to any other pre-conditions to get an office in the local government.

`We have been campaigning in union councils and wards for the success of our supporters in the constituency to gain independent representatives for future politics,` he added.