By-election turns into battle for power

PPP, PML-N compete head on in Ghizer 1 polls.

GILGIT:

The by-election for a Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly seat, vacated by Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah, has turned into a battle between two major political parties – the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The significance of the G-BLA 19 (Ghizer 1) by-election, to be held today (Thursday), can be gauged from the fact that the top leadership of both these parties is physically present in Gahkuch, the headquarters of Ghizer, in an attempt to attract as many votes as possible by using all means.

The PPP has virtually knocked out all its opponents. Chief Minister Mehdi Shah and Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah made dozens of visits to the constituency soon after the announcement of the date for polls, announcing development packages worth Rs100 million.

According to some sources, the money to be spent on the rehabilitation of flood victims is being spent on the purchase of votes. “More than Rs30 million have been showered on ‘village committees’ this week alone, not to mention job promises in case PPP candidate Jawahir Ali wins,” said the source.

PML-N’s central leader Siddiqul Farooq also flew to Gilgit this week to backup his party’s regional leaders led by Hafizur Rehman. As expected, Siddiqul Farooq soon after his arrival in Gilgit unleashed a relentless assault on the PPP, accusing it  of corruption.

As the deteriorating law and order, joblessness and corruption erode the credibility of the PPP government, success in the by-election will somewhat repair the party’s daunted reputation, allowing it to reclaim its leadership mantle in Gilgit-Baltistan politics. Likewise, the success of the PML-N candidate will, to some extent, help the party in harnessing support.

Meanwhile, sources in political circles claim that the PPP might even sacrifice the seat, just to keep a candidate of a certain nationalist party from wining. The candidate, Nawaz Khan Naji, is known for his strong nationalist views and his success will be a serious blow to the future of the PPP.

“That’s why we feel the PPP can afford to lose in favour of the PML-N candidate,” said a local analyst, fearing that a bloody clash if Naji is defeated.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2011.