Announcement by Musarrat Shaheen to contest election against Fazlur Rehman in NA-24 constituency has earned the media focus clouding graphic picture of encounter.
As many as 41 candidates, including Fazlur Rehman, senator Waqar, Faisal Karim Kundi and Musarrat Shaheen have filed nomination papers from NA-24 having registered votes of 541,284. But the real contestants are Fazlur Rehman and senator Waqar.
The electoral politics in D I Khan and other seraiki belt is revolving around the issue of Seraiki province. All the political parties, including religio-political ones, are poised to devise their policy aimed at creating Seraiki province besides mitigating the sense of deprivation brewing since long among the people of Seraiki belt.
Former deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi who was elected as MNA on a PPP ticket by defeating Fazlur Rehman with a big margin of 40,000 votes in 2008 general elections is facing popular revulsion and wrath of the electorates. Although Kundi has filed his nomination papers from two constituencies, but he is not finding courage to launch his election campaign. This fragile position has forced Faisal Karim Kundi to retreat and his brother Ahmad Kundi to go ahead.
Faisal Kundi is embroiled in the negotiations centering on his withdrawal from NA-24 in the favour of Senator Waqar Ahmad.
Sources said KP PPP President Anwar Saifullah Khan has shown his willingness to take forward reconciliatory process between Faisal and Waqar and he was engaged in flurry of meetings to bring both sides to a workable formula.
If Faisal withdraws then Waqar will emerge as the strongest candidate of PPP against Fazlur Rehman. Miankhel group has already announced to support Waqar. Makhdoom group has also forged contacts with Waqar following the forging of electoral alliance by independent candidate Javed Akbar with Fazlur Rehman. One-on-one encounter may ensue defeat of Fazlur Rehman in NA-24.
In NA-25, Ahmad Kundi of PPP, Dawar Kundi of PTI and defecting former MPA of JUI-F Qadir Bhatti are the main contenders against Fazlur Rehman. But the balance of support seems tilting in favour of Fazlur Rehman due to multiplicity of candidates.
Mazhar Jamil of PPP has outpaced Lutfur Rehman in PK-64 due to internal strife in the ranks of JUI-F.
In PK-65, JUI-F has withdrawn its candidate in favour of defecting former MPA of PPP Sami Ullah Alizai and decided to support him as independent candidate. No noteworthy candidate seems to be contesting polls against Alizai.
In PK-66 Parwa, Sana Ullah Miankhel is contesting election against JUI-F candidate Lutfur Rehman while the former is enjoying support of Senator Waqar Ahmad. A neck-to-neck contest is likely to take place in this constituency.
Senator Waqar group is backing independent candidate Fateh Ullah Miankhel against JUI-F-backed candidate Israrullah Gandapur in PK-67 Kalachi. The teachers sacking issue has paved the way for the victory of Fateh Ullah Miankhel. The position of independent candidate Javed Akbar looks stronger than Makhdoom Zahid Murid Kazim, ANP candidate in PK-68 Paharpur. Kazim is facing stiff resistance from Seraiki nationalists in this constituency. He, however, can be disqualified in fake degree case. Independent candidate Habibullah Kundi is dominating the electoral scene in PK-69 Tank city due to split in the ranks of JUI-F.
