All over the world, politics is local but in our part of the world, politics is local as well as national. We take interest in elections for press club slots, local government offices, national and provincial assemblies, prime minister and chief ministers, Senate members and so on. I am often amazed to see the election results of the US, England and India on the front page of newspapers in Pakistan.
The recent by-polls battle going on for the 20 constituencies of the Punjab Assembly has been a hot topic of my family gatherings, leisure time with friends and during interactions with my editorial team and elsewhere.
Though the area where I live does not fall in any by-election constituency, my interest in these elections is as intense as that of the immediate voters.
The election is a matter of life and death for Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, who will fight for the top provincial slot soon after the by-polls. Of the two people, my (reluctant) choice is Hamza Shehbaz.
The reason is that Hamza Shehbaz being the chief minister will strengthen political and economic stability in the country. A chief minister from an opposite side may create imbalance in the power corridor, which will affect everything from politics to jobs, rule of law, etc. And this should not put the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its allies in the loser list. The party has acted as a great watchdog on the working of the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government, and the party will be rewarded for its strong opposition in the next general elections. Hamza Shehbaz can retain the seat of the chief minister if voters elect 11 or 12 candidates of the PML-N in the by-elections.
Let us evaluate the candidates and endorse the most eligible ones.
PP-7 Rawalpindi
My choice is PML-N’s Raja Sagheer Ahmed. Reason: he was elected as an independent candidate in the general elections of 2018.
PP-83 Khushab
For this Khushab/Jauharabad constituency, my endorsed candidate is Malik Ghulam Rasool Sangha of the PML-N. Reason: he won as an independent candidate in the 2018 elections after defeating PML-N and PTI candidates.
PP-90 Bhakkar
My candidate is PML-N’s Saeed Akbar Khan Nawani. Reason: he was elected as an independent candidate with a good margin. He joined the PTI and later voted against the party policy in the chief minister’s election because he was not accommodated in the Buzdar government.
PP-97 Faisalabad
Ajmal Cheema should win. Reason: he won as an independent candidate and later joined the PTI.
PP-125 Jhang
Faisal Hayat Jabboana is my first choice as he won the election as an independent candidate and later joined the PTI.
PP-127 Jhang
Well, Meher Muhammad Aslam Bharwana should win the election because he being an independent MPA joined the PTI.
PP-140 Sheikhupura
Well, my choice is PTI’s Khurram Ijaz Virk. Reason: Mr Virk is a lawyer and bar leader while the opponent is a party ditcher.
PP-158 Lahore
If PML-N’s candidate Rana Ahsan Sharafat wins, I will be happy. Reason: Abdul Aleem, who vacated the seat, is not in the race.
PP-167 Lahore
PML-N’s Nazeer Chohan deserves to lose the seat because when he was elected on the PTI ticket, he often spoke against his party chief. This makes his party loyalty questionable. PTI’s Shabir Gujar is my choice.
PP-168 Lahore
PML-N’s Asad Ali Khokhar was a minister in the Buzdar government till the last day of the government. Then he switched sides. PTI’s Malik Nawaz Awan should win.
PP-170 Lahore
The PTI’s Zaheer Khokar should win against PML-N’s Amin Zulqarnain for his
floor-crossing act.
PP-202 Sahiwal
PML-N’s Nauman Langrial stands in the loser list of mine while PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar is my favorite. Reason is the floor-crossing act of the PML-N’s candidate.
PP-217 Multan
PML-N’s Muhammad Salman Naeem should win against PTI’s Zain Qureshi. Reason: Salman Naeem was elected as an independent candidate.
PP-224 Lodhran
PML-N’s Zawar Hussain Warraich should taste defeat against PTI’s Amir Iqbal Shah. Warraich should learn lessons for ditching the party.
PP-237 Bahawalnagar
Fida Hussain won the seat in the 2018 as an independent candidate and now he should win again as a PML-N candidate.
PP-282 Layyah
Muhammad Tahir Randhawa of the PML-N has my endorsement for he won the GE 2018 as an independent candidate with a popular vote.
PP-288 DG Khan
In GE 2018, Mohsin Atta Khan Khosa won as an independent candidate. This time, his candidate, Abdul Qadir Khosa, who is a PML-N candidate, should win.
PP-272 Muzaffargarh
The seat belongs to Makhdoom Syed Basit Sultan, who won it as an independent candidate in the 2018 elections. This time, his wife and PML-N candidate Syeda Zahra Basit Bukhari should win.
PP-273 Muzaffargarh
Syed Sabtain Raza Bukhari, who was a PTI candidate in 2018, and now a PML-N candidate, should lose the polls. PTI’s Yasir Jatoi has my sympathies.
PP-228 Lodhran
Nazir Ahmed Khan of the PML-N is my candidate for he won the seat as an independent candidate in the last elections.
Politics is local and the voters should elect the candidates which suit them. My endorsement was only for this piece.
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