ISLAMABAD: The Rawalpindi district has retained all its seven National Assembly (NA) seats after delimitation but with changes to their numbers.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised the mapping of the district-wise constituencies.
The boundaries of the NA constituencies in the Rawalpindi district largely remained unchanged with the first seat - NA-57 - consisting of tehsils Kotli Sattian, Murree, Kahuta and Kallar Sayedan. Previously, this constituency was called NA-50 from where Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was elected.
NA-51 has changed to NA-58 and comprises tehsils of Gujar Khan and Sagri. The current MNA from this area is Raja Javed Ikhlas.
NA-52 Rawalpindi–III has now become NA-59, which is the rural area of Rawalpindi tehsil. This is the home area of prominent politician Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan who entered politics by becoming MNA in the 1985 non-party based elections.
Chaudhry Nisar currently represents NA-52 which includes Chakri, Adwal, Banda, Basali, Gorakhpur, Sehal and some parts of Chakwal and Dhamial.
However, he has recently announced to contest the upcoming elections from NA-63 (Taxila).
NA-53 has become NA-63 which is the expansive constituency consisting of many areas falling in Rawalpindi tehsil such as parts of Chakri Sihal and Adiala. This constituency contains whole of Taxila tehsil, including Wah Cantt.
The incumbent MNA from NA-53 is Ghulam Sarwar Khan of the PTI, who is the archrival of Chaudhry Nisar.
The remaining three NA seats under the new delimitation are NA-60 (formerly NA-56) including Satellite Town, Shah Sultan, Dhoke Khabba, Muslim Town, Dhoke Kala Khan, Dhoke Paracha, Pindora, Gawal Mandi, parts of Saddar and Rawalpindi Cantonment, Ayub Park area, Gulistan Colony, almost all of Chaklala Cantonment, including the airbase and all the housing schemes.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan was elected from this constituency.
NA-61 consists of the existing NA-54 which includes most of Rawalpindi Cantt, Westridge, Naseerabad, parts of Saddar, Tench Bhata, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Chur Harpal, Koh-i-Noor factory area, Lalazar, Lal Kurti and Harley Street. Malik Ibrar Ahmed represents this constituency in the National Assembly.
The seventh and the last NA seat in the district is NA-62, which was NA-55 till the new delimitation. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was elected from this constituency in 2013.
The areas falling under NA-62 are Ratta Amral, Dhoke Hassu, Pir Wadhai, Khayban Sir Syed, New Katarian, Bagh Sardaran, Gunj Mandi, Shah Chan Chiragh, Liaquat Bagh, Fatima Jinnah University, parts of Saddar and some parts of Chaklala Cantt.
Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2018
