GUJAR KHAN: Candidates for the upcoming general elections are busy campaigning in NA-58, Gujar Khan, with electioneering activities running late into the night.

The main contenders for the National Assembly seat are former prime minister, PPP’s Raja Pervez Ashraf, former town nazim Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Chaudhry Mohammad Azeem, and former PML-N MNA Raja Javed Ikhlas.

Mr Ikhlas defeated Raja Pervez Ashraf in the 2013 general elections by securing 121,296 votes while the former premier secured 67,241. PTI candidate Farahat Faheem Bhatti had secured only 39,997 votes.

Mr Ikhlas has a tough competition ahead of him due to many reasons. He has not been in contact with the public and has not been as visible, neither on media nor in the National Assembly. His cousin Raja Irfan Aziz, chairman of Mr Ikhlas’ native UC Mohrah Noori, has joined PPP and started working with Raja Pervez Ashraf, calling him a true leader of the masses.

Furthermore, local political figures including Chaudhry Ishtiaq of Bewal- a UK settled businessman- and Raja Asghar of Herain- who is settled in France- were aspiring for party tickets to the provincial assembly and were refused. They are now standing in opposition to Raja Ikhlas.

Supporters of former PML-N MPA Chaudhry Iftikhar Warsi, who has retired from politics, can now be seen in the camp of Raja Pervez Ashraf as well.

Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, a former PML-N MPA from Gujar Khan, was disqualified by the Supreme Court in a fake degree case. He first fielded his wife for the elections but her papers were challenged and rejected. His brother, Raja Faisal Aziz Bhatti’s papers were also rejected three days ago. Rumours are going around that these were the results of efforts by people in the party and Mr Bhatti has since taken to social media to announce that he will teach a lesson to his foes.

Raja Pervez Ashraf has gained the support of disgruntled PML-N leaders and a number of the party’s councillors and other notables have joined his camp. Development work done during his time as prime minister will also count towards gathering support for him in the elections.

The PTI candidate, Chaudhry Mohammad Azeem was a town nazim during the Musharraf era and has access to local body representatives and PTI enthusiasts but this his first time contesting in a general election.

Candidates of Tehreek-i-Labaik and Jamat-i-Islami are much behind in the contest.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2018