Cousins face off in PP-288 by-poll

Candidates from PTI and PML-N are cousins with deep political history

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

Electioneering in PP-288 DG Khan-IV entered its final stage. In addition to the PTI, PML-N and TLP, three independent candidates are set to contest the July 17 by-election. The real competition however, will be between two cousins, candidates of the PTI and the PML-N respectively.

In the 2018 general elections, Sardar Mohsin Ata Khosa defeated his cousin, PTI candidate Sardar Saifuddin Khosa, as an independent in this constituency by more than 9,000 votes. Following his victory, Mohsin joined the PTI, however he was de-seated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over voting for the PML-N candidate in the Punjab CM election, in clear violation of party policy.

MPA Mohsin chose not to participate in the election, so the PML-N nominated Sardar Abdul Qadir Khosa, a former chairman of the district council as its candidate, with the support of Sardar Mohsin Ata Khosa. The PTI once again nominated Sardar Saifuddin Khan Khosa as its candidate.

Despite being cousins, the two candidates are political rivals for the first time since 2018 while the father of PML-N candidate Abdul Qadir, MNA Sardar Amjad Farooq Khosa, had won from this constituency since 1985. Additionally, Punjab had been governed by the PTI for three-and-a-half years and Mohsin was in close contact with former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. Major funding was received for construction and development in this constituency.

The PML-N candidate Abdul Qadir also credited the work done by his father Amjad Farooq and former MPA Mohsin Khosa in the constituency. As a result, the PML-N will have an advantage given the political heritage of their candidate as well as a strong history of work in the constituency.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2022.