Residents of Islamabad’s NA-54 constituency are expressing scepticism about the past performance of candidates competing in the February 8 general elections, saying political bigwigs had always put the provision of basic facilities on the back burner and broke electoral promises.
They are of the view that the elections are usually contested on tall claims of paving roads and streets, providing better education and health facilities, offering jobs, and executing other development works.
A survey conducted by The Express Tribune in the constituency exposes the performance of political heavyweights like former federal ministers Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Both politicians are face to face in NA-54 – the territorial jurisdiction of which starts from the Margalla Hills to the Attock’s Kala Chitta Pahar, and the banks of Swan River to the areas of Chakri and Adiala.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the total number of registered voters in this constituency is 466,344, of which 241,350 are male voters and 224,994 are female voters. As many as 39 candidates are contesting the elections from NA-54, 30 candidates from PP-12, and 28 candidates will come face-to-face in the PP-13 constituency.
According to locals, the close contest will take place between Ghulam Sarwar Khan of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and independent candidate Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. Sarwar quit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), while Nisar parted ways with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and is now contesting the elections as an independent candidate for the second time. Both aspirants are seen seeking public votes based on their past performance in their respective electrical campaigns.
On the other hand, the main contest for the provincial seat (PP-12) is expected between Mohsin Ayub of the PML-N, Ammar Siddiq Khan of the IPP, and Saad Ali Khan of the PTI. In PP-13, the PML-N-backed Malik Umar Farooq will step into the electoral battlefield to face the PTI’s Fahad Masood.
Read: PML-N vies for 4th win in NA-121
Locals have complained of a lack of basic facilities in the constituency. Azhar Hussain Qazi describes the pathetic condition of Primary School Paswal located in the native village of Ghulam Sarwar. He says the students are taking classes despite the school’s building having been declared dangerous by the building department. Some students told this reporter that they are forced to study in the open air amid cold weather.
Local people say that despite enjoying several ministries, Sarwar could not change the condition of the primary school and Basic Health Center of Pind Noushhari. They further say that both the candidates were also unable to fix encroachment problems at Chowk Sarai Kala Taxila. Usman Aziz says traffic jams, drainage and lack of a permanent place for vendors in Taxila Chowk are acute problems in the last ten years.
Tauqeer Riaz says that the 500-bed Wah General Hospital built at the cost of billions of rupees during the tenure of Nisar Ali Khan even lacks doctors and laboratory tests.
The voters in the constituency are of the view that the real change is still a distant dream as candidates seek to vote in the name of changing the fate of the constituency by solving the people’s problems, but break promises always.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2024.
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