ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the general elections, both the major political parties - PML-N and PTI - in Islamabad’s local government are facing apparent internal rifts over the distribution of tickets.

However, there is no grouping in the PPP as the party has hardly found suitable candidates for the three National Assembly seats.

After the recent delimitation, the number of NA seats in Islamabad has increased from two to three – NA-52, 53 and 54. According to former MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif will address a workers’ convention in E-11 on Monday.

PML-N, PTI local govt members differ with party leadership over choice of candidates

This is being considered as the start of the election campaign in the capital city. Sources said the central leadership of the PML-N had taken note of the rifts and directed all its local leaders to attend the workers’ convention. In this regard, a meeting was held between Anjum Aqeel and Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, a deputy mayor on Sunday.

Sources said the PML-N central leadership wants to award ticket to Anjum Aqeeel for NA-54 as they believe that he could give a tough time to PTI’s Asad Umar.

However, the PML-N is facing internal rifts over the award of tickets in NA-53 and NA-54. Two deputy mayors - Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, who himself is a candidate, and Azam Khan – are openly opposing the expected decision of the party.

At a press conference recently, the local PML-N leadership under the supervision of the two deputy mayors and a number of UC chairmen demanded that the NA-54 ticket should be allotted to Syed Zeeshan Naqvi and a UC chairman (elected on reserved seat) Sajid Abbasi should be fielded from NA-53.

For NA-54, Anjum Aqeel is likely to face Asad Umar while in NA-53 both the PML-N and PTI are facing grouping over the allocation of tickets.

The sources said for NA-53 the PTI chief wanted to award ticket to his old companion Amir Kiani. Mr Kiani is PTI Punjab north president and his family has been living in Islamabad even before it was made the federal capital.

But local PTI leadership thinks that the ticket should be given to Chaudhry Ilyas Mehrban, who in 2013 elections bagged over 57,000 votes against PML-N’s Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Another option, according to them, should be opposition leader in MCI Ali Awan.

Former PPP senator Babar Awan is also in the race for getting a party ticket from NA-53.

On the other hand, the PML-N is still undecided on the award of ticket for NA-53 as the local chapter of the party and a majority of elected chairmen are supporting PML-N city general secretary Sajid Abbasi. Former CADD minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who will be contesting from his home constituency of NA-52, is also an aspirant from NA-53 while former MNA Farhana Qamar and chairman UC Phulgrhan Raja Waqar Mumtaz are also interested in contesting the election from NA-53.

For NA-52, there is no serious clash among the ticket aspirants as the PML-N has almost decided to field Dr Tariq Fazal while the PTI leadership is considering giving ticket to Raja Khurram Nawaz, the UC chairman of Tamar.

PPP leader Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari won NA-49 in 2002 and in the last elections Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar got almost 45,000 votes from the constituency (now NA 53). The party has now decided to field Syed Sibtul Hassan Bokhari. From NA 52, Afzal Khokhar will contest the elections while from NA 54 Raja Imran Ashraf will be the PPP candidate.

Jamaat-i-Islami is also facing grouping over the allocation of tickets as its former candidate from NA 49 Zubair Farooq is seriously considering contesting as an independent candidate from NA 54 while former MNA Mian Aslam is likely to contest from both NA 54 and NA 53.

PML-N deputy mayor Syed Zeeshan Naqvi told Dawn that there was a difference of opinion amongst the workers for award of tickets but the party was united under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif and the workers would follow whatever decision the leadership would take.

PTI’s Asad Umar said though there were a number of candidates there was no rift among the party workers.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2018