In with the old: Parliamentary veterans return

ISLAMABAD:

In democracies, it is something of a ritual to find seasoned politicians booted out of parliament. More than a fair share of big-name politicians in the country suffered crushing defeats in the May 11 poll. However, up to 16 or so familiar faces will play a significant role over the day-to-day affairs in the new National Assembly.

While Nawaz Sharif is on the verge of becoming the prime minister for a record third time and Imran Khan will be a strong force in the opposition, 14 other prominent and experienced parliamentarians will make their presence felt after their successful re-election.

Former opposition leader in the previous National Assembly, PML-N’s Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is an exception though. He has been a member of parliament since 1985, winning in eight successive polls.

Another heavyweight politician and former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was elected as an independent candidate from the NA-266 constituency (Nasirabad-cum-Jaffarabad). Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, was elected as an MNA from NA-259 (Quetta).

The role of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who prefers to be a part of any government, will also be important.

Another veteran is Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, chief of the Awami Muslim League. He was elected from Rawalpindi’s NA-55 constituency. Defeated thrice before on this seat by the PML-N, he managed to secure the constituency this time after an alliance with PTI. As a parliamentarian, most of the time, Sheikh Rashid played his role as a cabinet member during Nawaz’s previous tenures and General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s presidency since 1985.

Both PTI central leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians head Makhdoom Amin Fahim have been undefeated since the 1988 general elections. Similarly, Syed Khursheed Shah, a top leader of PPP in Sindh, has also been a mainstay in parliament since 1990.

Former NA speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza has also been in parliament since 1997, winning the NA-225 constituency of Badin-cum-Tando M Khan from Sindh.

Once a close confidant of former premier Benazir Bhutto, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has been an MP since 2002 from the NA-8 constituency of Charsadda. Sherpao also served as chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the PPP’s last tenure.

Former foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Muhammad Ejazul Haq of PML-Zia and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of PML-Q are other prominent faces in the lower house.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2013.