NA-19, Haripur: By-poll acid test for PTI, PML-N

Ballots will weigh might of Tareens, Rajgans against political rookie

HARIPUR: With only a day to go for the much-awaited NA-19, Haripur by-poll, both Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have wrapped up their election campaigns. Influential leaders from both parties flew in to make sure things are in order.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan checked in thrice while his wife Reham Khan attended over a dozen meetings. The competition’s magnitude is such that even unrelated people like Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed dropped by to say hello to the PTI candidate Dr Raja Amir Zaman. On the other side, Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Asif Kirmani, Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid and other party lawmakers added colour to PML-N candidate Babar Nawaz Khan’s cause.

The National Assembly berth has gained significance primarily because the two parties have been at loggerheads for over three years and recent developments like the Judicial Commission report have turned the by-poll into a decider of influence for both sides. PTI is more than ready to overturn PML-N in its traditional stronghold; the outcome will beyond doubt have a ripple effect in the rest of the country.

Sensing the mounting tension between the two sides, the Election Commission of Pakistan has called out to security forces who will be deployed at polling stations.

Show of muscle

The recent local government polls have already given PTI a taste of victory in Haripur. Although Amir’s brother MPA Raja Faisal Zaman can be seen in the PML-N huddle, he is instead banking on the homework of former provincial minister Yousuf Ayub Khan, the Tareen scion.

There for the people

Faisan Amin, a local political activist, believes the people of Haripur are fed up with the monopoly of the Tareens and Rajgans. “The district’s sick industry, bumpy roads and poor health facilities bemoan the state of affairs,” he added.

Former tehsil naib nazim Salim Tanoli feels Babar can count on the legacy of his father Akhtar Nawaz Khan and the performance of his uncle Qaumi Watan Party PK-51 MPA Gohar Nawaz Khan. On the contrary, Amir lives in the federal capital and pays a visit to his hometown Khanpur once in a blue moon.

“The same goes for Omar Ayub,” Tanoli said. “However, the situation is different as far as Babar is concerned. If he and his uncle are not available at the hujra in Khalabat Township, his brother Bilal Khan and cousin, tehsil councillor Samiullah Khan, will be there for the people.”

About dealings with the police, revenue officials and utility companies and dispute resolution, Tanoli said no one can wait for an MNA who shows up once in a while. “We have reason to believe Babar can change the fate of the people,” he added.

Better tomorrow

Tehsil councillor Atif Malik concurred with the idea. He feels PML-N’s performance in the federal government has helped Babar tremendously and he even has a chance of making it to the federal cabinet.

“If Amir wins, he will sit on the opposition benches and hence be able to do little for his electorates,” Malik said. “On the flipside, if Babar makes it through, he can introduce multibillion-rupee development schemes.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2015.