Sheikhupura district: Will the real PML-N candidate please stand up?

Tigers roar back and forth in Sharaqpur and Ferozewala

LAHORE:

Tiger – the election symbol for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz – is plastered across the banners and posters pledging support for several independent candidates fielded by PML-N MPA Ali Asghar Manda (from PP-165) and those who got party tickets in Sharaqpur and in Ferozewala municipal committees.

The independents are contesting the election with the diamond symbol.

Manda, also the S&GAD parliamentary secretary and a member of Special Committees 3 and 5 of the Provincial Assembly, is supporting independents in 16 union councils and 17 wards in Sharaqpur and Ferozewala. They are pitted against official PML-N candidates in the same constituencies.

At a cursory glance, it is not easy to tell which candidates have the PML-N tickets as candidates from both groups have displayed pictures of PML-N leaders with roaring lions and tigers on their posters and banners. Both sides claim they are the ‘real’ PML-N candidates.

Manda fielded his candidates as independents after failing to get them party tickets.

A PML-N candidate, supported by Manda, told The Express Tribune that Manda had a clash with MNA Rana Tanveer Hussain, who had distributed tickets in these constituencies. The candidate said that Hussain had refused to give tickets to the candidates Manda had suggested.

When he could not get the tickets, Manda asked his candidates to file nomination papers as independents, he said. Tanveer and Manda are also campaigning on behalf of their candidates and have been participating in processions and meetings.

Tanveer was in a procession in Sharaqpur on Monday afternoon. Manda led a procession in support of his candidates in Moranwala on Monday evening.

On November 13, supporters of Qasim Bhatti, a PML-N candidate, and Amir Aslam, of Manda’s group, clashed in UC 27-Wandala Diyal Shah (Ferozewala) and six people received bullet injuries. Ferozewala police arrested Arshad Manda, brother of MPA Asghar Manda.

There are eight union councils in Sharaqpur Muncipal Committee. For UC-37 Dhamkey, the PML-N and Manda are supporting the same candidate – Rana Shaukat Ali Khan. Khan also has the support of Javed Nasrullah, former tehsil nazim of Sharaqpur. In UC 38-Mandianwala there is one-on-one contest between candidates fielded by the PML-N and by Manda. In UC 39-Sahjowal there is a one-on-one contest between a PTI candidate and Manda’s candidate. In UC 40-Kot Mehmood and UC 41-Faizpur candidates fielded by the PML-N and Manda are rivals. In UC 42-Qureshianwala, there are three panels backed by the PML-N, Manda and an independent. In UC 43-Marh Bhanguwan, there are three panels backed by the PML-N, Manda and an independent. In UC 44-Chak 22, there are three panels fielded by the PML-N, Manda and the PTI.

MPA Ali Asghar Manda told The Express Tribune that he had fielded candidates for 16 UCs and 17 wards. He said he had not strayed from party policy as the local MNA and he were given their share of party tickets. He said he had fielded his own candidates in areas where his supports were in majority but had not been given tickets.

To a question about clashes with the MNA, he said it was a part of politics and was not personal. He said he was loyal to the party and his supporters and had chosen to facilitate his people and the party in order to ensure maximum seats for the PML-N.

He said he was given tickets too late and the election commission had not awarded his candidates the PML-N party symbols. He said he had also approached the LHC in this regard but the matter was still pending.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2015.