‘Working class constituency’ likely to back the Tiger

Area needs a graveyard, clean water and gas.

LAHORE:

This urban constituency has long been a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stronghold. The only exception was Tahirul Qadri’s narrow victory in 2002 (by 4,404 votes). With Qadri deciding to sit this round out, the PML-N appear to be strong favourites.

Had the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) stuck to its original decision to field Abdul Aleem Khan here, there might have been some competition. But right now, it is likely to be smooth sailing for the PML-N.

Though annoyed with the PML-N’s Chaudhry Naseer Bhutta, who won the NA seat in 2008, for not delivering on his promises, their disenchantment seems to extend to all parties. Rather than voting for another party, many have decided not to vote at all. Their biggest complaints include access to clean drinking water, the absence of a graveyard and no or little gas.

Several residents of Baba Fareed Colony, Zaki Chowk, Khan Colony and other areas told The Express Tribune they were in no mood to vote. Malik Nasir, a resident of Data Nagar, said that they had to take the bodies of their loved ones to areas far away for burial. “That is the biggest problem here and has been ignored,” he said.

Muhammad Ali, who lives in Baba Fareed Colony, said that the residents were forced to drink contaminated water. “We complained to Naseer Bhutta many times but nothing was done,” said Ali.



Muhammad Nawaz, a Green Town resident, complained that though his area had gas, the supply pressure was low at peaks hours.

When asked to comment, Bhutta said that he had tried his best to resolve these issues. “Many residents choose to get an illegal water connection and use substandard pipes for the purpose, which corrode and make the clean water dirty,” is how he explained the problem of contaminated water.

The former MNA said that the government had allotted a 135-kanal land in Tayyab Town for a graveyard, which would be accessible to Kot Lakhput, Data Nagar, Zikria Colony and its adjoining areas.

He is confident that his party will win the elections PML-N, even though it has given the ticket to Waheed Alam Khan. The reason for his optimism is the Rs5 arab (Rs5 billion??) “mega projects” – roads, dispensaries, 102 parks, collages, schools and a cricket stadium and a ladies Park in UC 139 and a Model Bazaar – he says were completed in the 13 UCs of the constituency.

His confidence doesn’t seem to be misplaced. Even if some voters decide not to vote, it might not make a large difference. The constituency is not known for a high turnout. In the last two elections, the turnout was a little more than 33 per cent.

Talking to The Express Tribune several people said they would vote for the PML-N. Mian Abdul Ghafoor, who claims to have more than 500 votes in his area, said that the votes would be cast for the ‘lion’. Local leaders Muhammad Asghar and Muhammad Tufail, both of whom claim to have a 300-votebank, said they were supporting the PML-N.

Major biradris (castes) of the area like the Rajpoots, Arain and Rehmanis have also decided to throw their support behind the PML-N. Others include Rana Babar, who won as an independent MPA in the past; Chaudhary Masood, a former nazim; Abdul Ghafoor Tabassam, a local leader; Ashraf Gill, a former naib nazim of the Christian community; and another former naib nazim Doctor Ghafoor.

Said Waheed Alam Khan, the PML-N candidate, “Alot of people are supporting us and we are confident of a victory.”

On number two in the constituency is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Its candidates are trying their best to sway the voters by promising to deliver where the PML-N has failed: graveyards and gas. Khurram Latif Khosa, son of former governor Sardar Latif Khosa, on Saturday addressed a corner meeting, “If someone dies, the residents of this constituency can’t bury them. They go around the city looking for a 6’x6’ area to bury their dead.”

He criticised the PML-N for not allocating land for graveyards for both Christians and Muslims, as they had promised before the 2008 elections. “If we come to power, we will provide land for both graveyards next to each other. They will be an example of interfaith harmony,” said Khosa.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has support in Chungi, Akbar Chowk and its adjoining areas but the small pockets will not be able to carry the elections. Even then, Nasrullah Mughal says he believes the PTI will win.



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This provincial assembly seat promises a good contest between the incumbent, Zaeem Qadri of the PML-N, and Ehsanullah Waqas of the Jamaat-i-Islami. The PPP has given the ticket to Faisal Mir, brother of TV anchor Hamid Mir, but he is a dark horse. PTI’s Sajid Sardar Joya contested the 2008 elections from the same seat as in independent and won just 53 of the 8,653 valid votes.

Waqas won the seat in 2002 when he contested as the MMA candidate, thanks to the PML-N’s support. Waqas is well-known to locals since he has been running a large private school in the area. He believes he will win because he is a ‘son of the soil’. “People trust me because I have worked for them. I constructed roads in Township and Green Town and everybody knows that I asked the Punjab Assembly not to tax fuve-marla houses.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2013.