Both major parties face rebellion

Leaders denied PML-N, PTI tickets are contesting Khushab by-polls independently

KHUSHAB:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Malik Amir Haider Sangha, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Malik Hassan Aslam, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Zamarud Abbas Baloch and independent contestants Malik Asif Bha and Hamid Wadhal have all paced up their campaigns for the July 17 by-polls in Punjab Assembly constituency PP-83 in Khushab.

The number of voters in the constituency is 322,555, while 213 polling stations with 621 booths have been set up. The authorities have declared 34 polling stations sensitive due to concerns regarding law and order.

PML-N candidate Amir Haider Sangha’s brother Malik Ghulam Rasool had won the 2018 general elections from the constituency as an independent contestant. He then joined the PTI, but voted for PML-N candidate Hamza Shehbaz Sharif in the election of the chief minister this year as part of the Jahangir Tareen group. He was de-seated by the Election Commission along with other members who had voted against party instructions.

The PML-N has fielded Amir Haider Sangha after denying the party ticket for the constituency to its former candidate and old supporter Malik Asif.

However, Malik Asif is contesting the election as an independent candidate against the PML-N nominee despite efforts by the party leaders of Sargodha division to persuade him to withdraw his candidature.

Now the party’s top and local leadership is busy day and night to ensure the victory of Amir Haider Sangha.

Former federal minister and Punjab PML-N vice president Sumera Malik is addressing large public gatherings for the party candidate. She had been thrice elected MNA from the area. Former MPA Karam Elahi Bandial is also running a door-to-door campaign to make the PML-N candidate successful in the by-elections to ensure his place in the good books of Hamza Shehbaz, according to local political observers.

On the other hand, independent candidate Asif Bha has remained a PML-N MPA from the constituency and was also a provincial minister in the party’s previous government. The Sangha brothers have always been his rivals in the constituency.

Bha is being supported by local PML-N workers and office-bearers outraged over the choice of the party candidate.

He appears to be posing a serious challenge to the PML-N candidate within the party’s support base. Some supporters of the party say Sangha has affiliation with a former district president of the PTI and his defection should not be rewarded.

Asif recently organised a youth convention which as attended by a large number of PML-N workers.

He also enjoys the support of former National Assembly candidate from the area Malik Ali Sawal, who is a relative of PTI ticket holder Hassan Aslam. Another former election candidate, Malik Mahmoodul Hassan, is also participating in the election campaign of Malik Asif. He has considerable influence in four union councils of Daman Muhar.

On the other hand, the position of the PTI is no different as two candidates claiming to represent the party are in the field.

Malik Hassan Aslam, Hamid Mahmood Wadhal and Shehzad Ahir had applied for the PTI ticket. The party issued the ticket to Hassan Aslam, younger brother of former MNA Malik Umar Aslam Awan.

Hamid Mahmood Wadhal has been ignored the second time, following which he is adamant to contest the elections as an independent candidate.

The central and district party leadership is siding with Malik Hassan Aslam, but there are reports of resentment among workers over the decision.

A PTI worker said while speaking to The Express Tribune that it was the vision of party chief Imran Khan that election tickets would not be issued to relatives of any MNA or MPA. He said the decision to field the brother of the former MNA had frustrated party workers.

He also said that the PTI candidate did not belong to the constituency, while the defiant contestant Wadhal was a resident of the same area and had made sacrifices for the party.

He said Wadhal had always obeyed Imran Khan and participated in the party activities despite all problems, due to which he had support among the workers.

TLP candidate Zamarud Khan Baloch also has his own vote bank in the constituency. PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan has already addressed a rally while party chairman Imran Khan plans to address a public meeting on July 12 and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz on July 14 in support of their candidates in Khushab.

According to political observers, the main contest is among the PML-N and PTI nominees as well as their leaders contesting independently.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2022.