–In Punjab’s largest constituency, TLP has fielded a former federal minister and a former MPA
–Internal rifts between influential Bhatti clan grow stronger as former uncle-nephew duo is at daggers drawn
HAFIZABAD: Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) have startled many in NA-87, Punjab’s largest constituency, as it has bagged an influential group of independents comprising former federal minister for works Liaquat Bhatti and former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Asad Ullah Arain, who has decided to jump ship after being denied ticket by his erstwhile party.
Bhattis of Burj Dara are at daggers drawn. Liaquat Abbas Bhatti, former MNA who had previously pitched himself against his nephew Shaukat Ali Bhatti, former MPA and provincial minister and candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on NA-87, the only National Assembly (NA) seat from Hafizabad, threw in the wrench by accepting ticket from TLP along with a group of independents.
Along with the former MNA and federal minister Liaquat Abbas Bhatti, who after being denied ticket by PTI, decided to go the whole hog and initially submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate but later joined TLP. From PP-69, former MPA from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Asad Ullah Arain, from PP-70, Pir Waseemul Hasan Shah and from PP-71 Pir Shoaib Shah who were previously independents joined hands with TLP, thus forming a formidable alliance against PTI and PML-N nominated candidates from the capital.
TLP, taking advantage of the overwhelming Barelvi population, has nominated candidates on all four seats. Previously, TLP chose candidates with little to no experience of electoral politics. However, with the inclusion of bigwigs, TLP is not only in a winning position but has also damaged the settled vote bank of both PML-N and PTI candidates.
The candidates from prominent political parties include PML-N’s Saira Afzal Tarar who is a former MNA and federal minister. From PP-69, former MNA from NA-103 Mian Shahid Bhatti is nominated. Old Loyalist to Bhattis, Dr Muzaffar Sheikh has parted ways with old masters and joined PML-N weeks before the elections and has been given the ticket from PP-70. Shoaib Shafiq Arain is also given ticket from PP-71.
PTI in NA-87 too has decided to side with the electables. Shaukat Ali Bhatti, the scion of politically influential Bhatti family and son of former MNA Mehdi Bhatti, has bagged the only NA ticket. Unfortunately, the rifts at the very core of Bhatti family have their roots in the reduction of NA seats from two to one. Previously, Liaquat Bhatti and Shaukat Bhatti both contested on NA seats. With only one seat remaining, the internal rifts came out in the open. From PP-69, Mamoon Jafar Tarar has been nominated. Former PML-N loyalist who jumped ship and joined PTI, Malik Fayyaz Awan got a ticket from PP-70 and Ahsan Anser Bhatti from PP-71.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the aftermath of recent delimitations, district Hafizabad has lost one of its previous two NA seats. Hafizabad for the past two decades had NA-102, comprising of Hafizabad City and adjoining villages and NA-103, comprising mainly of Tehsil Pindi Bhattian.
Hafizabad, a city with a population of 1.157 million and spanning over an area of 2,367 square kilometers and bundled under NA-87 for NA and PP-69, PP-70 and PP-71 for Punjab Assembly (PA).