Constituency profile: An old rivalry reignites

With 14 contestants in the race, the actual fight in NA-100 is between a PML-N candidate and an independent.

ISLAMABAD:

The two men who are the main competitors for NA-100 have always been arch-rivals who shared nothing except the competition for winning confidence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) leadership to secure a party ticket for the constituency that covers tehsil Noshera Virkan of Gujranwala district.

In Gujranwala where allegiances are very clan-centric, Azhar Qayyum Nahra, a representative of Jutt clan and Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz of Rajput clan are the strongest contenders. The PML-N has awarded ticket to the former, though both were vying for it. The pair had been kept in waiting by the PML-N leadership for a long time.

However, the PML-N decided to award all three tickets -- one National Assembly and two Punjab Assembly) to Nahra Group. PML-N’s nominations went to former tehsil nazim Azhar Qayyum Nahra for NA-100, Riaz Bibi, widow of former MPA Amanat Virk, for PP-101 and Rafaqat Hussain Gujjar for PP-102.

On the other hand, Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz has formed his own Ittihad Group which includes Khalid Pervaiz Virk and Irfan Bashir Gujjar for PP-101 and PP-102, respectively.

Background check

Azhar Qayyum is the younger brother of Haji Mudassir Qayyum Nahra, a student leader and former president of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) who had won a Punjab Assembly seat (PP-102) in 2002 as an independent candidate. In 2008, he had won the same NA-100 seat as an independent candidate, and later joined the PML-N.

Muddasir had won two elections as independent candidate but after his disqualification owing to a fake degree, his younger brother is in the forefront. Mudassir continues to be the mastermind behind Azhar’s political career.

On the other hand, Bilal Ijaz is a son of the late Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed, who had won this seat twice in the 1990s. He himself had been elected to the National Assembly in the 2002 elections. Bilal had contested the 2002 elections on PML-Q ticket but had quit the party losing elections in 2008.

Gloomy forecast for PPP

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), according to locals, stands nowhere in the upcoming general elections. The PPP had once again fielded Chaudhry Tassadaq Masood. Masood, who has been a silent spectator during his tenure as member of the lower house, is lacking the clout needed for the upcoming elections. His election campaign received a severe blow two days ago when he was severely injured in a road accident. Masood now lies at a hospital bed with head injuries and his campaign is being overseen by his nephew and other family members.

Wrong choice

There is a sense of disappointment in the constituency over the choice of PTI which has fielded Abid Javed Virk. “He does not have good reputation at all and I am stumped at what kind of decision the PTI
leadership has taken,” a young voter said who shied away from disclosing his identity. Virk had joined the PTI the day he was awarded party ticket, he added.

The clan factor?

NA-100 is a constituency where the vote bank, like many others in Punjab, is swayed by allegiances to clans.  “People prefer their clans to political parties,” said Zameer Ahmed who belongs to the constituency and is a lecturer.

The reason, Ahmed said, is that people say “we know those who help us in the hour of need,” and are not concerned about which party has what policy on national issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2013.