- Dr Tariq Fazal says PML-N all set to compete in all three constituencies with all their might
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued the polling scheme of all three constituencies namely NA-52, NA-53 and NA-54 of Islamabad and finalised the number of polling stations, polling booths and their location, Pakistan Today has learned.
With a total population of 2.2 million, Islamabad has a total number of 7,65,348 registered voters in its three constituencies, including both rural and urban areas. NA-52, a predominantly rural constituency has a total number of 231,256 registered voters and will have 245 polling stations and 835 polling booths.
NA-53 with 311,529 registered voters has the largest number of voters in Islamabad and will have 325 polling stations and 1104 polling booths. NA-54, the urbanest of the three is also the smallest constituency and has 218,697 registered voters. This constituency will have 216 polling stations and 754 polling.
With the caretaker setup in place, the general elections are less than a month away and political temperature reaching feverish heights, the residents, however, remain largely aloof from the election flurry as despite the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finalising their candidates and PML-N choosing Anjum Aqeel Khan from NA-54, Tariq Fazal Chaudhary from NA-52 and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from NA-53 who was cleared to contest the election by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday.
Despite all this, the city level campaigning and canvassing remain largely restricted to banners and posters flooding the streets. Islamabad previously had two constituencies namely NA-48 which was largely urban and NA-49 which predominantly had rural areas and housing societies. After the latest delimitations, another constituency was added and at present, the capital has three constituencies which are home to 700,744, 670,683 and 630,152 people respectively, according to the ECP data.
The electioneering and campaigns in rural and urban areas are lukewarm at best with both candidates and voters yet to go all out. It is pertinent to mention here that the new constituency is carved out of what was previously NA-49 along with some parts of NA-48 that is Islamabad’s other National Assembly constituency. The new constituencies of NA-52 and 53 constitute what was previously NA-49.
Talking to Pakistan Today, former minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate from NA-52, said that his party was all set to compete in all three constituencies with all their might. “Delays in the selection of the candidates and giving of tickets is a normal thing as every party tries to select the best candidate for the seat,” he said.
“We have seen similar a phenomenon in other parties. However, now tickets have been announced and we are all good to campaign and canvass,” he said about delays in allocation of the tickets. Former MNA Asad Umer who is contesting elections from NA-54 said that although he was an opposition politician and did not have funds and resources, he still helped the voters by participating in rallies and introducing bills in the National Assembly.
“I still did my bit to help my voters by participating in rallies, introducing bills in the National Assembly, going to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to talk about land affectees issue, talking to experts pertaining to water woes of the capital and other issues,” he said about his performance during five year tenure as lawmaker.