As many as three leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have started lobbying to attract the main leadership to get the party ticket for NA-48 Islamabad, which has been vacated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart Javed Hashmi, but sources suggest PML-N will likely field Anjum Aqeel once again for by-polls.
Former MNA Anjum Aqeel who faced defeat at the hands of Hashmi in the May 11 polls, Islamabad High Court Bar Association former president Ashraf Gujjar and local leader Adnan Kayani are in the race to represent PML-N in by-elections in the constituency.
However, insiders said the leadership was in favour of awarding the ticket once again to Anjum Aqeel.
Hashmi, who also won from his hometown Multan’s NA-149, had to vacate this seat. PTI has nominated Asad Umar as its candidate to defend Hashmi’s seat.
Sources in PTI said Imran Khan had decided to file Asad Umar, since he enjoyed a good reputation among party workers and had a special expertise in economics, adding that the party needed such a person in the parliament.
Party leaders are expecting that Asad Umar will defeat the PML-N candidate, since NA-48 mostly comprises of an urban population, where PTI enjoys a good vote bank. On the other hand, PML-N sources claim that after formation of government in Centre, PML-N would make a good comeback in the constituency which was why Anjum Aqeel is likely to be given another chance.
The constituency mostly comprises posh sectors such as F-6, F-7, F-8, F-10, G/9 and G-10 where PTI has a strong vote bank. In all of these areas, Hashmi outnumbered his opponents. Political pundits predict if PTI once again manages to bring its voters from the said areas to polling stations, Asad Umar will clinch the seat with ease. Otherwise, PML-N, after having formed the federal government, could attract voters from rural area.
NA-48 is one of the two constituencies of the federal capital. For the general election, almost all parties had fielded their candidates in Islamabad but PTI’s Hashmi managed to register a convincing victory. Hashmi won by bagging 73,878 votes while the runner-up, PML-N’s Anjum Aqeel, received 52,205 votes.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) candidate and former MNA Mian Aslam, who received 25,048 votes in the May 11 polls from NA-48, is also likely to contest in by-elections. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Faisal Sekhi Butt, who could not get significant votes on May 11, is also active to take part in by-polls.
PML-N likely to field Anjum Aqeel again in NA-48 by-polls
