ISLAMABAD:
All eyes are on Multan, where by-elections are taking place today for the National Assembly constituency NA-149. The seat had fallen vacant after former president of PTI Makhdoom Javed Hashmi had resigned in line with the decision of his former party.
However, Hashmi is again in the race as an independent candidate against Malik Aamir Dogar, who is also contesting as an independent candidate.
The ruling PML-N is said to have been engaged in an aggressive campaign to get Hashmi re-elected. On the other hand, the PTI has thrown its weight behind Dogar.
According to sources, the PML-N with its 42 seasoned lawmakers and a public affairs unit has been carrying out a shadow campaign for Hashmi since October 9. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is directly monitoring the by-election, apprised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a recent meeting that the PML-N team could easily carve out Hashmi’s victory if they could get 10 more days for campaigning, sources said.
The PML-N’s team and the PAU – led by Hamza Shahbaz Sharif – relied on a Special Branch’s survey which had earlier predicted that Dogar was the hot-favourite and might defeat Hashmi with a big margin.
After the survey, the PML-N started working in the constituency and later when the Special Branch held its second survey on October 12, it was discovered that Hashmi’s position had considerably improved and now a neck and neck contest was expected between Dogar and Hashmi, they added.
According to sources, the CM informed the premier that Hashmi is targeting the Seraiki vote which constitutes 60% of the constituency, opposed to Dogar, who is attracting Mohajirs, who make up 40% of the total voters.
Federal Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid confirmed that the ruling PML-N was unofficially supporting Hashmi – but he said that he was not aware of any massive campaign by the party in favour of the veteran politician. “Our support for Hashmi is due to his principled stance as he first resigned from his seat and party and then decided to the contest as an independent candidate. Hashmi has introduced a good culture in Pakistan’s politics,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
The Afshin Butts belong to PMLN stopped the polling at Shamabad Multan polling station and claimed to rigging inside the polling by the Election commissioner and administration , which is questionable? How the administration can do it as?, we can put the question, who is RO/DRO and who control them? There is Govt of PMLN, who can appoint these peoples, where are the polling agents of the parties? where is the law enforcement agencies , whose control the situations?
Where is the Presiding Officer ? As he has the authority of section 30 magisterial powers. Why he not use his powers? Or Is he under control of someone?
He may punish the accused? or otherwise, if the blame is wrong than , the person who is blaming wrongly ,may sentenced with punishment.
We don,t need to the person to become the member of parliament by means of miss leading and rigging. The party who support these activities may be transparently expose to the nation.
Hash is the kind of person that suites PML N but will not be acceptable to the betrayed and depraved people of Multan.
The Code of conduct for electoral process is main concerned, because one having violation of the same than what will be the legal status of the code of conduct, which will resulted to failure after election of a candidate whose violated or the whole election will be marked as rigged. Both of conditions will be harmful for Pakistan, that's why right decision on time from the ECP should be paced to rectify the election process and take decision prior to poll. Any Activity that effect the election process by any means can be consider as pre poll rigging, which could be made the election disputed on grounds of rigging. The ECP clearly declared earlier the Pre-Poll rigging and its consituents, causes of implementation, causes of origination of the law,results of the pre-poll actions on election process
free and fiat election will always loose to democracy in Pakistan. This is the biggest tragedy of all.