TOBA TEK SINGH: All the three scions of Gojra’s known Warraich family are likely to contest against each other in the upcoming election.

Till 2002 general elections only two sons of late ex-MPA Asghar Ali Warraich -- former MNAs Amjad Ali Warraich and Khalid Javed Warraich -- were in politics while the youngest Bilal Asghar Warraich was studying in the US.

In 2002 polls, Khalid (who had won in 1997 from PP-84), was Gojra tehsil nazim, so Bilal was called back from US to contest from PP-84 (now PP-118), who won the seat.

In 2008 elections, Bilal again contested from PP-84 and won it.

As Amjad was disqualified by Supreme Court for having a fake BA degree in 2007 for 10 years, he instead of fielding Khalid for the National Assembly seat, decided in favour of his own wife Ms Farkhanda Amjad Warraich, who won the contest and became an MNA in 2008.

In 2013 election, Khalid parted ways with his brothers and he not only himself contested on a PML-N ticket for NA-92 (now NA-111) against his brother’s wife ex-MNA Ms Farkhanda, but also fielded his own wife Ms Fauzia Khalid on a PML-N ticket against his brother Bilal in PP-84 (now PP-118).

As a result, Khalid defeated his sister-in-law Ms Farkhanda, while his younger brother Bilal defeated his (Khalid’s) wife Ms Fauzia.

For July 25 elections, Amjad, after completing his 10-year-long disqualification period, has again emerged as a candidate for NA-111 (on the ticket of his own party, National Muslim League).

Now his brother Khalid will not only contest against him (Amjad) on PML-N ticket from NA-111, but will simultaneously contest from PP-84 (as his wife Ms Fauzia is district council chairperson) against his younger brother Bilal.

Given the situation, local political observers expect close contests in Gojra in the upcoming polls between members of Warraich family.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2018