Rifts in ruling party: Anjum Aqeel’s tacit support acts as swing vote for PTI
Disgruntled PML-N politician asked his followers to vote for Asad Umar instead of PML-N’s Ashraf Gujjar.
Former Engro CEO Asad Umar with PTI chief Imran Khan at a press conference at PTI Secretariat in Islamabad. PHOTO: SANA
ISLAMABAD:
Internal differences within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over selection of a candidate appeared to have dented the party’s chances at bagging the capital’s NA-48 seat.
Disgruntled PML-N politician Anjum Aqeel Khan, who lost the seat to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) Javed Hashmi, asked his followers to vote for PTI’s Asad Umar instead of PML-N’s official candidate Ashraf Gujjar, sources close to the development revealed.
“Khan feared that his political career would be over if Gujjar wins the elections,” said a senior PML-N political worker from Islamabad.
Khan was hopeful of getting the party’s ticket for the by-elections but a controversy ensued and Advocate Ashraf Gujjar, who was not strong candidate, came out as the party’s choice. Khan still tried to remain in the race until Prime Minister, and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif, intervened and ordered Khan to withdraw from the by-polls.
Sources in PML-N disclosed that PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who won the election from NA-53 but was later disqualified over a fake degree, visited Khan’s house along with his brother Muhammad Siddique Khan, PTI’s Member Provincial Assembly from PP-7. The duo allegedly sought Khan’s support for their candidate on NA-48, as well as offering the controversial PML-N member to join PTI.
Khan’s grievances seemed to have boosted PTI’s chances in Islamabad’s rural areas---a traditional PML-N stronghold. Voter turnout at polling stations in the rural areas also appeared to be higher than the urban areas of NA-48. Voter mobilisation in Islamabad’s rural areas is mostly dependent on patronage-based political affiliations.
PTI’s political workers in rural areas such as Mehra Haqqu, a small village on the outskirts of the capital, said the differences within PML-N worked in their favour.
“The Jamaat-e-Islami was already supporting us and the PML-N’s infighting proved to be the icing on the cake for us,” a PTI political worker outside a polling station in Mehra Haqqu said.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Gujjar, however, he was not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2013.
Internal differences within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over selection of a candidate appeared to have dented the party’s chances at bagging the capital’s NA-48 seat.
Disgruntled PML-N politician Anjum Aqeel Khan, who lost the seat to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) Javed Hashmi, asked his followers to vote for PTI’s Asad Umar instead of PML-N’s official candidate Ashraf Gujjar, sources close to the development revealed.
“Khan feared that his political career would be over if Gujjar wins the elections,” said a senior PML-N political worker from Islamabad.
Khan was hopeful of getting the party’s ticket for the by-elections but a controversy ensued and Advocate Ashraf Gujjar, who was not strong candidate, came out as the party’s choice. Khan still tried to remain in the race until Prime Minister, and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif, intervened and ordered Khan to withdraw from the by-polls.
Sources in PML-N disclosed that PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who won the election from NA-53 but was later disqualified over a fake degree, visited Khan’s house along with his brother Muhammad Siddique Khan, PTI’s Member Provincial Assembly from PP-7. The duo allegedly sought Khan’s support for their candidate on NA-48, as well as offering the controversial PML-N member to join PTI.
Khan’s grievances seemed to have boosted PTI’s chances in Islamabad’s rural areas---a traditional PML-N stronghold. Voter turnout at polling stations in the rural areas also appeared to be higher than the urban areas of NA-48. Voter mobilisation in Islamabad’s rural areas is mostly dependent on patronage-based political affiliations.
PTI’s political workers in rural areas such as Mehra Haqqu, a small village on the outskirts of the capital, said the differences within PML-N worked in their favour.
“The Jamaat-e-Islami was already supporting us and the PML-N’s infighting proved to be the icing on the cake for us,” a PTI political worker outside a polling station in Mehra Haqqu said.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Gujjar, however, he was not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2013.