MUZAFFARGARH: More than 100 candidates have obtained nomination papers from returning offices for the six National Assembly (NA) seats of the district here in Muzaffargarh.

Of those many familiar faces, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar and former governor and chief minister Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar are the most prominent figures, who have obtained papers and they are being discussed among the political circles. The PML-N, which had bagged three out of five NA seats from the district is facing difficulties to find electable candidates as its two former MNAs have joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the third is contesting as independent candidate. It is believed that those failing to get the PTI ticket will turn out to be PML-N candidates.

The PPP seems conformable in the district for its candidates in the previous elections are still with the party, and they all have even begun their electioneering. For NA-181, the candidate is former senator Amjad Abbas Qureshi, NA-182 Hina Rabbani Khar, NA-183 Hina’s father former MNA Malik Rabbani Khar, NA-184 Nawabzada Iftikhar Khan, NA-185 former minister Qayyum Jatoi and NA-186 Jatoi’s son Dawood Jatoi.

Malik Rabbani Khar told Dawn the party had confirmed ticket for Hina Khar for NA-182 but at the moment, she was a covering candidate for him. His son Raza Rabbani would be the PPP candidate for NA-183. Raza Rabbani said after party decision, Hina Khar would contest the election.

The PTI received several applications from the district. The lead competitors, however, are: Mustafa Khar or Dr Shabbir Qureshi for NA-181; former MPAs Zeeshan Gurmani, Tariq Gurmani and Rafique Khar and Niaz Gashkori for NA-182; Zeeshan Gurmani and Dr Sajid Ashraf for NA-183; former MNA Basit Sultan Bukhari and Nawabzada Ahmed Khan for NA-184; former MNA Ashiq Gopang for NA-185 and Moazam Jatoi for NA-186.

So far the PML-N is concerned, it faced eleventh hour ditching. Now, there seems no prominent face for the ticket in NA-181, where earlier it had granted ticket to former MNA Sultan Hinjra, but his family sources said he wanted to contest this election as an independent candidate. For NA-182, former MPA Hammad Tippu and Munna Sheikh have applied for the ticket. For NA-183, so far no candidate has openly asked for the ticket. The same situation is in NA 184, 185 and 186.

District PMl-N president Arshad Gudara, however, said Hinjras were still in the PML-N and Sultan Hinjra would be their candidate for NA-181, Qasim Hinjra or Hammad Tippu NA-182, little know Basit Khar NA-183, Rana Bahar NA-184, while Haroon Bukhari would take care of NA 185 and 186.

Several independent candidates are also in the run, who have the potential to stage upsets. Former MNA Sultan Hinjra is likely to be independent candidate for NA-181. Former MNA Jamshed Dasti (who represents his own Awami Raj Party) has obtained paper for NA-182 and 184 while former MPA Qasim Hinjra will contest for NA-182, former MPA Qaswer Langrial for NA-184 and Fiaz Chhajra for NA-183.

Malik Naseer Hinjra, town committee chairman and brother of former provincial minister Malik Ahmad Yar Hinjra, said the Hinjra group had refused to contest election from the PTI platform despite the party had offered them tickets.

Several candidates were in touch with each other forming groups, and it likely that the final list may have several unlikely candidates. Sources said that Moazam Jatoi may not get the PTI ticket and in that case, he will be a PPP candidate for NA-186.

This shows the unpredictable nature of the electoral politics of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2018