Battle Lahore: Stage set for fierce contest in by-polls

PML-N seems strong in PP-168, PTI in PP-170 while close contest likely in PP-167

The by-elections scheduled for Sunday will decide the future of Punjab’s politics and therefore both the mainstream parties – PML-N and PTI – are running a rigorous campaign to grab the maximum number of seats.

The by-election is scheduled for 20 seats and PML-N needs at least nine while the PTI requires 13 to win back the throne of Punjab. Lahore will also witness one of the closest contests on Sunday as by-polls on four provincial seats will be held in the provincial metropolis. A detailed survey of the constituencies reveals that the workers are very charged and this by-election has really become a mini general election. The by-poll will be held on four constituencies of Lahore – PP-158, PP-167, PP-168 and PP-170.

PP-167: Nazir Chohan VS Shabir Gujjar

The real contest in PP-167 will be between PML-N’s Nazir Chohan and PTI’s Shabir Gujjar. Nazir Chohan got elected on the ticket of PTI in 2018 by grabbing 40,704 votes against PML-N’s Mian Saleem, who got 38,463 votes. Later, Chohan was de-seated by the ECP for casting his vote to Hamza Shehbaz in his CM’s election. He became the candidate of PML-N this time while PTI awarded a ticket to Shabir Gujjar. The local chapter of PML-N was disturbed earlier when the ticket was given to Nazir Chohan by the party leadership.

Mian Saleem, who was the PML-N candidate in 2018 from the constituency, wasn’t actively campaigning for Chohan earlier. When Maryam Nawaz addressed the public rally in PP-167, she called Mian Saleem on the stage and said that PML-N is just like a family and the party will not forget the sacrifices of Mian Saleem. It will be the second by-election in this constituency during the last eight months. PML-N won NA-133 by-election last year and PP-167 comes under this constituency of National Assembly.

PML-N’s Shiasta Pervaiz Malik won from NA-133 by getting 46,000 votes against PPP’s Ch Aslam Gill’s 32,000. It is the only constituency of Lahore where the PPP also has a major vote bank among all the four constituencies where a by-poll is being held. The PPP’s vote bank in PP-167 that falls under NA-133 can give a benefit to Chohan as PML-N and PPP are the coalition partners both in the Centre and Punjab.

Moreover, the vote bank of TLP will also play a decisive role as its candidate Khaleeq Awan got 6,000 votes from here in 2018 elections. Inflation and awarding ticket to Chohan were the main challenges faced by the PML-N during the campaign. Both Imran Khan and Maryam Nawaz have also visited the constituency for the election campaign of their respective candidates. Meanwhile, PML-N MNAs Ali Pervaiz Malik, Shaista Pervaiz Malik and PTI’s leaders Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Qasim Suri and Fawad Chaudhry have also addressed rallies in the constituencies. Green Town, Town Ship, Johar Town, Wafaqi Colony and Maryam Colony are part of this constituency. The political temperature remained high in this constituency throughout the campaign as a clash between both the candidates was also seen here. Although PML-N enjoys a good vote bank here, but Imran Khan’s momentum can throw up a surprise in PP-167.

PP-168: Malik Asad Khokhar VS Nawaz Awan

PP-168 can be said to be the safest seat for PML-N in Lahore this time. The PML-N has a good vote bank in the constituency while its candidate, Asad Khokhar, is also a heavyweight as compared to PTI’s Nawaz Awan. It is the constituency from where PML-N’s stalwart Kh Saad Rafique got elected as MPA in 2018 by getting 34,000 votes against PTI’s Fiaz Bhatti who could get only 14,000 votes. TLP got 9,000 votes from PP-168 in 2018 while PPP could get only 2,400 votes.

PML-N clinched this seat with a huge margin of 20,000 votes. Later, Kh Saad Rafique won the by-election and became MNA from NA-131 while resigning from PP-168. He defeated PTI’s Humayun Akhtar Khan from NA-131. PML-N fielded its old party worker Rana Khalid while PTI awarded ticket to Malik Asad Khokhar in the by-election of 2018. PTI’s Malik Asad Khokhar clinched this seat by getting 17,571 votes while Rana Khalid could get 16,870 votes. The seat was won by PTI with a margin of few hundred votes.

TLP increased its vote bank from 9,000 to 10,000 votes this time and it is likely that its vote bank will further increase in 2022 by-polls. PP-168 is the only constituency of Lahore where Maryam Nawaz didn’t come to address the workers as the PML-N believes that they can win it easily. PTI didn’t field any heavyweight against Asad Khokhar as the candidate Nawaz Awan used to be his coordinator earlier in the constituency and it can go in the favor of PML-N.

Khokhars are experts at contesting the elections from Lahore and Asad Khokhar has to his credit that he completed many development works in PP-168. He enjoyed good portfolios in the cabinet of Usman Buzdar and developed his personal vote bank in the constituency. Keeping in view a good vote bank of PML-N in the constituency and strong position of Asad Khokhar, this seat seems going to the PML-N. Son of Kh Saad Rafique and PML-N’s last candidate Rana Khalid are also active in the constituency.

It should be noted here that Asad Khokhar was the PTI’s candidate for the MNA seat from NA-136 in 2018 but lost to PML-N’s Afzal Khokhar. Areas of Attari Saroba, Chungi Amar Sadhu, Kot Lakhpat, Jinnah Colony, Sofiabad, Pak Town, Sitara Colony, Bank Staff, Nishtar, Ferozpur Road, Ashiyana and Kamahan fall in PP-168.

PP-170: Amin Zulqarnain VS Malik Zaheer Khokhar

It is the most difficult seat for PML-N to win as the PTI’s candidate is a heavyweight and a former MNA too. Malik Zaheer Khokhar got elected as MNA from Lahore in 2002 while his uncle Malik Karamat Khokhar is still a sitting MNA of PTI from Lahore. Khokhar is very well-connected and knows the art of contesting elections very well. On the other hand, PML-N’s candidate from PP-170, Amin Zulqarnain, is weak despite the fact that his brother Awn Chaudhry is serving as advisor to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The posh housing societies of Lahore also fall in this constituency where PTI has a considerable vote bank. Amin Chaudhry, the brother of Awn Chaudhry, who was once close aide of Imran Khan, won this seat in 2018. He later gave his vote to Hamza and got de-seated by the ECP. Malik Zaheer Khokhar was also pitched by PTI in 2010 by-election from Lahore’s provincial assembly seat and he fought very well against PML-N’s Saif ul Malook Khokar. He was very close to do an up-set in 2010 against PML-N and he can do wonders this time too for PTI.

Khokhars are considered very strong in Lahore and they contest every election vigorously. As this time around, there is no other Khokhar against Zaheer, it can be said that he might clinch this seat. Zaheer Khokhar also contested as MNA candidate in 2018 on PTI’s ticket but lost to PML-N. Main areas of PP-170 include Wapda Town, Bagrian, Sadhoki, Valencia Town, Nasheman Iqbal, Wapda Town and some other posh societies of Lahore. Ameen Zulqarnain became MPA from PP-170 on PTI’s ticket by getting 25,000 votes against PML-N’s Imran Javed who could get 20,000 votes in 2018. The PPP candidate got 3000 while TLP got 2,500 votes. It is worth mentioning here that PML-N had earlier promised to award a ticket to old loyalist Imran Goraya from PP-170 but the promise wasn’t fulfilled. Goraya was already doing his homework in the constituency for elections but the party gave the ticket to an outsider and it might become a factor for the defeat of PML-N from PP-170.

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