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| October 9, 2002 | Wednesday | Sha’aban 2, 1423 |
Stage set for close contest at NA-56
RAWALPINDI, Oct 8: A close contest is expected on NA-56 constituency, comprising Satellite Town and adjoining areas.
However, the odds, like in other constituencies of the city, are in favour of People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) candidate Sardar Shaukat Hayat, a new entrant in electoral politics.
The anti-PPP vote bank in this part of the city had been traditionally present in the A, B, C, D, E, and F blocks of Satellite Town and Khayaban-i-Sir Syed. With the new delimitation, the E and F blocks of Satellite Town and Khayaban-i-Sir Syed have been included in the neighbouring NA-55 constituency, weakening the anti-PPP vote bank.
Other areas like Bihari Colony, Affandi Colony, Sadiqabad, Dhoke Khillu, Dhoke Hayat, Sharifabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, Pindora, Dhoke Babu Irfan, New Malpur and Chistaiabad, predominantly inhabited by the lower middle working class having inclination towards the PPP, have been included in this constituency, consolidating the party’s position in the area.
The other major factor that can debilitate the anti- PPP vote bank is the presence of a large number of anti-PPP candidates in this constituency, resulting in division of the votes that in the past helped the PML-N candidate win with a big majority.
The Kashmiris, who too have a strong presence in the area with over 5,000 votes, have announced their support for the PPP candidate, who also happens to be of Kashmiri origin. The other major concentration in the constituency is of Abbassis, who have also announced their support for the PPP since one of their clansmen, Raja Rashid Naseem Abbassi, is contesting on one of the provincial assembly seats from this constituency on a PPP ticket.
The other clans in the area include Syeds, whose votes would split between the PPP and the PML-N. Similarly, Kianis are largely favouring the PTI candidate, Amir Mehmood Kiani, while the Gujjars are supporting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
The PML-N vice-president, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, has also gained strength over the past few days and is likely to put up a strong fight. He has previously remained member of provincial assembly from the area.
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