PML-N, PPP, JUI candidates all set to race to the top

• While JUI’s Zubair begins to gain confidence and PML-N’s Dr Fazal enjoys a good public repute, political pundits place their bids on PPP’s Nawaz 

After getting clean chits from returning officers, the candidates of three main political parties have started their election campaigns for NA-49 seat.

PML-N’s Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, PPP nominee Mustafa Nawaz Kohkar and JUI ticket holder Zubair Farooq Khan have started their campaigns. However, PTI is yet to kick start its formal campaign for May 11 elections because PTI leadership is facing difficulty in deciding ticket for this constituency. Chaudhry Ilyas Mahrban and Khuram Nawaz are in the run to get PTI ticket.

NA-49 is one of the two constituencies of the federal capital which mostly covers rural areas of Islamabad. In 2008 elections, a very close contest was witnessed between PML-N and PPP. Dr Fazal had won the seat by defeating PPP stalwart Nayyar Hussain Shah Bokhari. He bagged 45,482 votes against Bokhari’s 44,726 votes.

While PML-Q candidate Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also got over 35,000 votes. He later joined PPP and served as advisor to prime minister on human rights. This year, he has been awarded PPP ticket.

Bokhari, who was unable to win this seat, managed to reach in Senate due to his close relations with President Asif Ali Zardari and currently he is serving as Senate chairman- one of the most important seats in the country.

Being Senate’s chairman, Bokhari announced many mega projects in NA-49 besides gas supply to rural areas. His family members got inducted hundreds of people in various government organizations. Since being the chairman, he can not contest for NA seat, he has extended full support to party candidate Mustafa Nawaz.

Political pundits, keeping the current scenario in view, believe Nawaz is in a better position to win this seat. However, it is difficult to say anything for sure at the moment.

PML-N’s Dr Fazal, who is defending his seat, also enjoys a good public repute. Political observers say Nawaz Sharif’s presence and addresses in Dr Fazal’s rallies could change the entire scenario. PML-N has a strong vote bank. However, his close relative Ilyas Mahrban is aspirant candidate for PTI’s ticket. If he managed to get the ticket then Dr Tariq will have to lose some family votes, which currently he has plenty.

PTI has also emerged in this consistency and has come as one of the major parties. PTI worker Raja Khurram Nawaz, whose panel won intra-party polls, is also a strong candidate of PTI ticket. He enjoys good support of voters in four out of 11 union councils of the constituency.

JUI has already awarded ticket to Zubair Farooq. It seems very difficult for JI to make any upset in this constituency. Whereas, Pervez Mushraf’s party candidate Dr Amjad is also contesting for May 11 elections.