VEHARI: Local and family alliances are going beyond the party affiliations in NA-163 (Vehari-II) as PPP candidate Natasha Daultana is being supported by her aunt and PML-N leader Tehmina Daultana, herself a candidate for NA-164 (Vehari-III).

In return, Natasha is supporting Tehmina’s son Irfan Daultana, a PML-N candidate for PP-231.

On the other hand, PML-N candidate in the constituency, Syed Sajid Shah, is favouring his nephew, Salman Shahid, who is an independent candidate for PP-231.

The constituency consists of rural area of Vehari, Luddan and Burewala. Sajid Shah is in the rival group of Tehmina though both of them belong to the same party, the PML-N. Tehmina favouring the PPP in this constituency could affect the vote bank of her party candidate, Shah.

In 2013 election, Sajid Mehdi had won the seat against the PTI’s Ishaq Khakwani, PPP`s Natasha Daultana and Dr Arifa Nazir Jutt (independent candidate).

On the provincial assembly seats of PP-232 and PP-231, the PML-N’s Bilal Akbar Bhatti and Irfan Daultana were the winners.

Nine candidates are in the race for NA-163. They include PML-N’s Sajid Mehdi Shah, PTI’s Ishaq Khakwani, PPP`s Natasha Daultana, Dr Arifa Nazir Jutt (independent) and Pakistan Kissan Ittehad chairman Ch Anwer. But the main contest is likely between the PML-N’s Sajid Shah and PTI`s Ishaq Khakwani.

Natasha Daultana was elected MNA for first time in 2012 as a PPP nominee in the by-election after the death of her brother, MNA Azeem Daultana, in a road accident. She got the sympathy vote.

This time she is contesting only on NA-163 seat and she has got no support of party candidates for the provincial assembly seats in her constituency.

This is the first time that nobody is contesting election on the PPP ticket for PP-231 and PP-232, which could affect her election campaign. However, the Daultana family is united in supporting each other, beyond the party affiliations.

PML-N candidate Sajid Shah with the support of PML-N candidate Bilal Akbar Bhatti in PP-232 and his nephew Syed Sulman Shahid (independent) in PP-231 is running a strong campaign. PTI candidate Ishaq Khakwani, who was elected as MNA in 2002 election, is contesting on two seats, NA- 163 and PP-231, and he has got the support of the PTI’s candidate Ejaz Bandesha in PP-232. Khakwani has an edge over his rivals due to the PTI`s rising popularity.

Former MPA of the PPP, Malik Nosher Langrial, is an independent candidate for PP-232 after refusing to contest from the PPP platform.

Dr Arifa Nazir Jutt is in the run as an independent candidate and she has entered an alliance with two provincial assembly candidates, Ali Waqas Hanjra in PP-232 and Imran Suldera in PP-231.

Former MNA Nazir Jutt claims that his family will win the both seats of NA-162 and NA-163 where her daughters Dr Arifa Nazir Jutt and Ayesha are contesting the election.

Political observers claim that after the Imran Khan’s visit to Burewala and address to the public rally on July 11, the PTI’s popularity had increase in Vehari. However, there would be a close contest between the PML-N and the PTI candidates.

Three independent candidates also contesting the election on the symbol of Jeep Shahid Iqbal from PP-229, Muhammad Younas from PP-230 and Muhammad Yaseen of PP-234 but they are not expected to make any ripples.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018