HARIPUR: A total of 11 candidates, trying luck in the by-election for NA-19, Haripur, filed their nomination papers here on Tuesday, which was the last day for paper filing with the concerned returning officer.

The candidates, who have filed nomination papers for the by-election, include Dr Raja Aamir Zaman of PTI, Babar Nawaz Khan of PML-N, Tahir Qureshi of PPP, Syed Pir Alamzeb Shah of JUI-F, Safeer Ahmed of APML, Samiullah Khan of PML-N’s Forward Group, and five independent contenders including Zahoor Ahmed, Mohammad Adqeel Durrani, Zeeshan Ahmed Khan Sher and Safdar Zaman.

All the political heavyweights, who had faced each other in the previous elections, are siding with Raja Aamir in the by-election.

The decision of Omar Ayub Khan not to take part in the election has brought a respite for his cousins, who are leading his opposite PTI camp. Apparently, Omar Ayub has pronounced that his mother is not well so he has decided to stay away from the contest. But, the reason is that PML-N has ignored his constituency badly. He is a good vote-catcher, but he preferred to stay away from an inconclusive exercise.

PML-N candidate for the National Assembly seat seems a lone crusader

PML-N has nominated Babar Nawaz Khan, a fresh chap for a big task. His family has made a dent in the traditional political setup by its pro-active politics. In the past only two power houses, Rajas of Khanpur and Tareens of Rehana (and Darvesh) would play the game, but some intermittent entries (Pir Sabir Shah and Sardar Mushtaq) in the elections had offered more choices to the voters.

Babar Nawaz is a new entry in the NA-19. It seems that he is the lone crusader, while the rest are against him by designs.

Pir Alamzeb Shah of JUI-F, who had formed Khudaam-i-Ahle-Bait in the previous elections to bag maximum votes of a particular sect, could only cause blow to Babar Nawaz. A less known Forward Group of PML-N has appeared from nowhere to mislead the Muslim League voters. Tahir Qureshi of PPP, who has fixed numbers of votes, has always polled his party votes. Safeer Ahmed is a nominee of APML, launched by retired Gen Pervez Musharraf. It is new phenomenon in local politics. Another candidate, Safdar Zaman, identifies himself with another Muslim League group, which is not familiar in the area.

All the remaining independent candidates are void of any considerable political profiles. They are in the run to making it interesting. PML-N has suffered a lot at the hands of PTI in the recent local bodies elections. It lacks any visible support in the district. Its entire local organisations had joined the folds of PTI. Its remaining figures are indirectly extending support to Raja Aamir as they have good old ties with him. The custodian of traditional gang politics are making all out efforts to teach a lesson to Babar Nawaz for his political insolence. He is being considered an intruder into another’s political fiefdom. Although he lacks political finesse, yet he has thrown a challenge to all those, who are acquainted with the devious style of politics.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2015

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