FAISALABAD: Despite their perennial differences, both the former state minister Abid Sher Ali and ex-Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah Khan are contesting on the PML-N tickets from the NA-108 and its allied provincial constituency PP-113, respectively.

Though the two PML-N leaders are not even on talking terms, none of them tried to change their constituency because of their vote bank.

In the last local bodies elections, none of the two groups opted for their party’s traditional election symbol ‘tiger’ for their candidates. The aspirants backed by Abid Sher Ali had contested on ‘bucket’ symbol, while the Rana Sana’s group’s symbol was ‘diamond’.

Abid Sher’s elder brother Aamir Sher Ali, a former city mayor, had contested for CC-116, his native constituency, on the bucket symbol, who was defeated by Rana Sana group’s Ashiq Rehmani.

Blaming Sana group for Aamir’s defeat, the Sher Ali group had vowed to respond to their rivals in the mayor elections.

Sher Ali group had fielded Sheraz Kahloon, who had won on a special seat of the municipal corporation, for the mayor slot against Abdul Razzaq Malik of Sana group. Malik won the contest with a clear majority.

The tussle between the groups has cost the former MPA, Khawaja Mohammad Islam, dearly who could not get the party ticket this time for the PP-111 and was contesting as an independent candidate.

In the mayor election, Mr Islam had supported the Sher Ali group’s candidate after developing differences with Rana Sana, with whom he had been close.

The PML-N top leadership had been trying since long to resolve the differences between the groups but of no avail.

At a press conference held a couple of months ago, Mr Sher Ali, father of Mr Abid, had alleged that Rana Sanaullah was involved in the killing of 21 people who were allegedly gunned down in different police encounters or by hit men.

A probe conducted by former city police officer Afzaal Kausar and ex-senior superintendent of police (SSP) investigation wing Irfanullah Khan against Rana Sana could not be concluded.

Supporters of Rana Sana claim the ex-law minister changed the political scenario of the city by strengthening the PML-N, resulting in the party’s victory in the 2013 general election.

They accuse Mr Sher Ali of ignoring merit in selection of party candidates for the past elections.

On the other hand, Abid Sher Ali’s supporters allege that Rana Sana earned a bad name for the party by “introducing violence to silence his rivals”.

They blame the ex-law minister for target killings, police encounters and some blind murders.

This time, Rana Sanaullah is also contesting from NA-106, besides his old provincial constituency PP-113 (previously PP-70).

Mr Abid is contesting from NA-108, from where his father Sher Ali had been elected as MNA.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2018