KASUR: Elimination of one constituency in National Assembly of Kasur district after fresh delimitation has thrown some local political figures, including a heavy weight politician, out of the electoral arena.

Earlier, Kasur comprised five constituencies -- NA-138 to 142 -- while 10 constituencies for the provincial assembly were reduced to nine in 2018.

NA-140, that was the area of two heavyweights -- Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri and Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali in 2002, 2008 and 2013 -- has been done away with.

In the 2002 election Kasuri made it to NA-140 from the platform of PML-Q by securing 50,318 ballots against independent Maulana Moeenuddin Lakhvi who bagged 49,399 votes.

In the 2008 polls, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali of PPP carried the day by securing 41,626 votes while PML-Q’s Kasuri polled 32,155 votes and Dr. Azeem Zahid Lakhvi, son of Maulana Moeenuddin Lakhvi, got 29,605 votes.

Later, in 2012, Sardar Aseff left the PPP and joined PTI. In the by-election, Malik Rasheed Ahmed, an independent candidate, carried the day against his rival Zahid Lakhvi, another independent candidate by a narrow margin of 89 votes.

Sardar Aseff likely to contest from NA-138; Khursheed Kasuri seems to be out of electoral contest

After winning election, Ahmed entered the PML-N fold.

Similarly, in the 2013 elections Malik Rasheed Ahmed of PML-N obtained 69,212, defeating Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri of PTI (30431) and Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali (independent -19,150). Dr. Azeem Zahid Lakhvi of PML-Q secured 50,488 votes.

As NA-140 has been converted into NA-138 and NA-139, Khursheed Kasuri and Malik Rasheed are out of the electoral game.

Kasuri has decided not to contest election as he seems uncomfortable in NA-138. Sardar Aseff would contest the election from NA-138. Earlier, the party had decided NA-140 for Kasuri. Now, after the delimitation, Kasuri was left with no choice as Aseff had already started campaign in NA-138.

Ahmed is striving to enter NA-138, the constituency of PML-N’s Waseem Akhtar who had secured over 100,000 votes in the last election. Akhtar is in the dock in an anti-judiciary tirade while he is likely to be replaced by his son. Malik Rasheed Ahmed is hoping Akhtar out of game following a case in LHC and ATC.

Out of 32 union councils in old NA-140, 13 UCs have been shifted to [new] NA-138. They include Marali, Bairon Khudian, Khai, Sandha, Dholan, Pial Kalan, Mandi Usmanwala, Rajowal, Thathi Usmanwala, Veeram Jhagian, Gohar, Khudian city, and half councils of Hussain Khanwala and Fatehpur.

Other UCs have been shifted to [new] NA-139. They include Bhagiana, Daokay, Talwandi, Pakhoki (half), Jajal, Kul, Thathi Bukhshi, Ladi, Gahlan, Arzanipur (half), Mokal, Bairon Kanganpur, Gandi Roop Singh, Akikay, Bhagiwal, Maschana, Jamshaiar Kalan and Kotha Kalan.

Ahmed is likely to be in hot waters as in NA-138 it would be hard to replace Akhtar while in NA-139, he would avoid facing Rana Ishaq of PML-N, being strong candidate.

Like NA-140, its provincial constituency - PP-179 - has been divided between new PP-174 and PP-175. Former MPA Malik Muhammad Saeed of PP-179 (old) is hoping to be replaced by Naeem Safdar, who is in the dock because of anti-judiciary tirade. Safdar may be replaced by his brother. Naeem Safdar had won 2008 and 2013 general elections with a wide margin.

It would also be hard for Saeed to be replaced by Nadeem Yaqoob Sethi in PP-175 wherein Sethi had won 2008 and 2013 elections with flying colours.

According to political pundits, Saeed is left with no choice but to quit politics or contest the coming election as an independent candidate.

Old PP-179 from where Punjab government spokesperson Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan was elected as MPA in 2002 and 2013, has been divided into PP-176 and PP- 174.

Under the new constituency, Khan lost sevn UCs - Sandha, Pial Kalan, Usmanwala, Rajowal, Najabat, Daokay and Talwani. In return, he has got new UC - Hussain Khanwala, Bazeedpur, Sheikhamad, Badian, Maan, Sahjra, Mahalam, Noorpur and Fatehpur.

Mr. Khan may not find it hard in new UCs as his cousin Saeed was elected from these constituencies. Khan would face PTI’s Muhammad Hussain Dogar, MMA’s Javid Kasuri and PPP’s Chaudhry Munir Ahmed.

In the 2013 elections, the Rana and Malik families emerged as strongest political groups. The Rana family had two MNAs - Rana Muhamamd Hayat and Rana Muhammad Ishaq and one MPA Rana Muhammad Iqbal.

The Malik family had one MNA - Malik Muhammad Rasheed and two MPAs - Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan and Malik Muhammad Ahmed Saeed. The Malik family may lose its strength owing to delimitation.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2018