ISLAMABAD: While a stiff competition is being expected between two major political parties including Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in two constituencies of Islamabad, a neck to neck contest is expected among three major political parties including PTI, PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PTI) in the third constituency of the country’s capital.
Unlike NA-53 and NA-54, the election in NA-52 is expected to be quite interesting as all three mainstream political parties have equal footing with their selected strongholds and areas. The major three contenders of this constituency are connected with the property business in one way or the other. This is the newly carved out constituency mostly out of old NA-49 and has 2, 34508 registered voters.
When it comes to the two constituencies of the federal capital (NA-53 and 54), it apparently looks that the real battle is between the PTI and the PML-N and the real issues spin around water, housing, education, health, encroachments, and transport.
According to details, three strong candidates including PML-N ticket holder and former federal minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Muhammad Afzal Khokhar of PPP and Raja Khurram Nawaz of PTI are in a run from NA-52. Both Raja Khurram Nawaz and Dr Tariq Fazal belong to the same constituency but people have voted Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary to power twice from this constituency.
As compared to the two out of three constituencies of the capital, PPP’s candidate is reportedly strong in NA-52 with the support of Khokhar brother and their influence in both urban and rural areas. PPP candidate Afzal Khokhar is one of the prominent contenders in the NA-52 constituency, and who also has the background of property business. Khokhar family is very old in politics in this area and has close connections with some influential political groups. The Khokhar family, apart from their presence and influence in rural areas, have a say in a major housing society in the constituency of Ghouri Town which is spread over one to seven phases.
According to residents of Alipur and Farash, though supporters of PTI in the area are comparatively in larger number Khokhar brothers are active to convince the residents of supporting their candidate. “Even before coming into power Khokhars are announcing schemes like road, water supply lines, gas connections etc in the area as they have resources and experience in real-estate business,” said a resident.
“Settlers from Gilgit Baltistan, who are in large number in Alipur, are also divided and they are supporting both PPP and PTI. However the reputation of PML-N candidate is not good here as Tariq Fazal Chaudhry during the past five years neglected the area,” said another resident Ahmed Ali.
“Though all representatives of PML-N including Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman is organizing meetings with the residents to convince them for supporting Tariq Chaudhry, they have failed to get any considerable support for PML-N,” he said.
The areas including Taramri, Check Shehzad, and some urban areas were considered strongholds of Chaudhry. However, political pundits claim, is facing severe criticism for his much involvement in political activities of Sharif Family instead of delivering services to the constituency during his five year- term. Chaudhry, who also has the background of real estate businesses, however, claims that as federal minister he had upgraded 200 schools in the federal capital. He admits that the PML-N failed to resolve the water issue in Islamabad by bringing any mega water supply project during the last five years. He also tries to get the credit for approving natural gas connections to 155 villages. Chaudhry has remained a member of the National Assembly twice from old NA-49 and also served as Federal Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division in the last PML-N government.
PTI’s Raja Khurram Nawaz, claims that only three union councils of the constituency were urban out of total 16 UCs falling in the constituency. He himself was the chairman union council on a PTI ticket until he resigned to contest the national elections.
Khurram Nawaz is of the view that the PML-N in its last tenure failed to bring any mega water supply project to the area. Schools and colleges and health facilities in this constituency are in a shambles. Most new localities of the area are without graveyards.
People talk about the miserable conditions of south Punjab but this constituency is worse than ant area of Punjab. The PTI candidate is making tall claims of resolving the longstanding issues of the constituency which remained unresolved during past five years. In his public gathering, he is reminding the residents of their issued like shortage of water in the area, the absence of road infrastructure etc.
The real test of the candidates will be getting maximum support in urban areas where mixed population exists. The third constituency of Islamabad, NA-52, apart from mostly rural areas, also consists of some important housing societies including Bahria Town, Media Town and the Defence Housing Authority etc which are located on the main highway leading towards GT Road. The presence of various ethnic groups in these areas will also matter for the candidates. The candidates are also trying to convince notables of Abbasis and other people belonging to Murree and Kotli Sattiyan settled in various sectors of the NA-52 constituency.
The prominent areas/localities of NA-52 included Qanungo Halqa Sihala, Patwar Circles of Qanungo Halqa Tarlai Kalan, Alipur, Jandala, Muhrian, Kuri, Pind Begwal, Tummair, Tarlai Kalan, Tarlai Khurd and Farash.
[…] Source: Pakistan Today […]
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