News
Sunday, April 21, 2013
PTI emergence to impact strongholds of influential politiciansaBy Kashif Hussain
LAHORE: The emergence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf in the political arena has left many of political observers uncertain to predict election results in different constituencies, ahead of general elections falling in May.
Bahawal Nagar is one of the few constituencies that have witnessed traditional results in the past but the rising popularity of PTI among youth and a big shift of affiliation of prominent Lalika family of the district with Imran’s party against the conventional political rivals in the constituency especially PPP, PML-N and PML-Q is likely to make impact.
Traditionally, the local politicians have been changing their affiliations with different political parties to remain in power and continue their hold in their respective constituencies. Majority of the population of the city also lack adequate political awareness.
Interestingly, it is the city where alien politicians (belonging to a city or district rather than Bahawal Nagar) came during elections and with some support of local influential figures and political affiliations won elections in the recent past. Pervaiz Elahi, Ejaz ul Haq, and Ghulam Mustafa Khar are one of the examples in this regard.
There are four constituencies of National Assembly including NA-188, NA-189, NA-190 and NA-191 while eight provincial assembly seats from PP-277, PP-278, PP-279, PP-280, PP-281, PP-282, PP-283, and PP-284.
NA-188 (Manchan Abad areas) constituency traditionally belong to a well known feudal landlord Khadim Hussain Wattoo who was previously affiliated with PMLQ but now changed his loyalty and attempting to get PMLN ticket. His rivalry group in the constituency is the one headed by Syed Asghar Shah who is being considered as a winner this time from PML-Q.
NA-189 constituency is considered a strong hub of politics for Gilanis of the PPP. However the things have changed in many aspects, as Syed Mumtaz Alam Gilani is not appearing in next elections and Akhtar Ali lalika surprisingly got ticket from PPP and created ordeal in the hub of PPP.
As the constituency traditionally being dominated by the PPP, nobody challenged Gillani’s position in past. Many prominent figures nominated their candidates but all were divided. There are three politicians are expected in next elections from the same cast. Shaukat Ali Lalika of PTI would try to beat his rival from this constituency in upcoming elections but at the same time Alam Dad Lalika of PML-N and Mumtaz Matyana alongside also expecting the ticket of PML-N. Popular support with PTI in this constituency in next elections and another rival from Q-league is transporter Shehzad Jutt who does not hold a good reputation in the city in past. There are also expectations from Akhtar Ali Lalika and Alam Dad Lalika who could withdraw each other’s account and there is also a possibility that only one Lalika may contest in next elections.
If all three Lalika’s contest in next elections then there would be chances of PTI to bag victory in polls despite the fact of PPP constituency and support of Mumtaz Alam Gilani to his party. NA-190 (Haroonabad, Fort Abbas areas) is a constituency known as ‘Alien Politiicians’ goat as a son of former military dictator Zia ul Haq’s, Ejaz ul Haq has succeeded twice from this area despite not being among the local area.
And this time, he is also a candidate from the same constituency and hopefully could get lead. Shaukat Basra of the PPP will constest against him here and people are considering him as a ‘dark-horse’. Afzal Sindhu of PPP has changed his affiliation towards PTI with no chances of victory in sight. NA-191 constituency (areas of Chishtian), Mumtaz Matiyana and Tahir Bashir are major contestants in the area who are generally power-politicians.
This time, Mumtaz has the chances of getting ticket of PML-N as well in this constituency. In previous 2008 elections, Mumtaz Alam Gilani of PPP won the seat and had enough interaction with people and brought gas and many other development projects in the under developed city. It could have been a card to play in next elections but now he is not in the political rivalry.
On the other hand, Ejaz ul Haq didn’t ever visit his constituency after wining the seat from here in the last elections, however he still holds support from a local influential group of Ch Gulam Murtaza commonly known as the ‘Vital Chaudharies’. The Chaudharies are business tycoons and social workers in their area. Contrary to him, one of the most prominent political personalities of the city is Khadim Hussain Wattoo, who is also in the habit of changing affiliations with different political parties. Previously he was affiliated with PML-Q and for next term he was expecting his ticket from PML-N but got stuck in the election commission’s scrutiny process.
Furthermore, in provincial constituencies, scenario has almost been changed as a strong candidate and seasoned politician Rana Abdul Rauf was convicted in fake degree case and disqualified for contesting next elections.
Another political personality, Asif Mohal, a descendent of Mian Manzoor Mohal, former deputy speaker and a very popular political worker is in local politics. However, contrary to him, his son had won previous elections and behaved like an aristocrat, which was strongly criticised by the locals. That’s the reason, his elder family members (belonging to Mohal clan) has decided to replace him with one of his cousin, Mian Lateef Mohal, on the PML-N ticket. PPP’s Shaukat Basra is one of the renowned vocal politicians of the area having bright chances to win next elections as he has a good support of his caste. He is a political worker having strong background and also interacted with local people along with his turncoats to get through to the next elections. Transporter Shehzad Rasheed Jutt have got PML-Q ticket with chances to get through it in presence of big caste rivals.
Another big caste of the area is Laleka, and ex-federal minister Abdul Sattar Laleka (late) was a strong representative of it. His wife, Begum Shahida Sattar, appeared in bye-elections as a replacement but couldn’t get through it. Shaukat Ali Laleka, Alam dad Laleka and Akhtar Ali Laleka are from the same caste having around 30,000 votes of the clan but they are divided into groups.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk