Nowshera Virkan NA-100 is a difficult constituency of Gujranwala with a divided vote bank on the basis of castes, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The major castes are Rajput and Jutt. As the Rajput vote bank is greater than that of the Jutt thus the former decide the fate of polls in the constituency. The Jutt can only win the polls by dividing the Rajput vote. This is what happened in the last elections.
Pre-election scenario of NA-100 revealed a dramatic change in the vote bank of the contestants. Current survey conducted by the newspaper showed that main contest is likely between PML-N candidate Rana Bilal Ijaz and PPP leader Rana Tassaduq Masood.
Mudasar Qayyum Nahra, who represents the Jutt, won the last elections but he has been declared ineligible in a fake degree case and an FIR has been registered against him with the Civil Lines police station. His brother Azher Qayyum Nahra contested by-elections and was defeated by Rana Tassaduq Masood with a margin of 4,000 votes. Azher’s position is weak because his brother Mudasar is a notorious land grabber. In spite of a divide in the Rajput vote bank, Azher will not be able to exploit the situation. On the other hand, the Virk and Gujjar clans are supporting PML-N candidate Rana Bilal Ijaz. Reportedly, PML-Likeminded MPAs Khalid Pervaiz Virk and Irfan Bashir Gujjar have announced to support Ijaz.
Ijaz was elected to the National Assembly in 2002 on a PML-Q ticket. Mudasar won as an independent candidate, but later joined the PML-N. PPP candidate Rana Tariq Mehmood played a major role in his success by dividing the Rajput vote bank.
Malik Nafees, a resident, told Pakistan Today that the Rajput votes would the fate of election in the constituency. He said Ijaz has a better chance to win as Mudasar is involved in several land grabbing cases.
Ijaz said that Mudasar does not fall within the scope of Article 62 and 63 of the constitution. He also said a fake degree case had also been registered against Mudasar, aiming at his disqualification to contest the upcoming elections. He said, “I have the support of the Rajput baradari along with other leading castes, including Hamid Nasir Chattha from the Hamkhayal (likeminded) group.”
Mudasar Nahra, son of Haji Sultan Nahra, was born on May 8, 1969 in Gujranwala. He won 2008 general elections, but his opponent challenged his degree which led to his disqualification. He was elected as MPA in 2002 elections and served as parliamentary secretary for fisheries from August 5, 2003 up to 2007.
Rana Tassaduq Masood said, “We are clinging to the ideology of Bhutto and will materialise it after winning the polls. We have roots among people and will not allow land grabbers and mafia lords to exploit the masses.”