KASUR: The spotlight now shines on NA-132 (Kasur-II) as former prime minister and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif submitted his nomination papers for the upcoming general elections. His contenders include PPP’s Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI’s) Rashid Tufail.

Numerous candidates, vigorously campaigning in their constituencies, also filed their papers for NA-132 on Sunday, gearing up for a heavyweight competition.

In its current delimitation, NA-132 has been carved out from the old NA-139 and NA-140. This newly formed constituency has 427,605 votes and consists of parts of tehsil Kot Radha Kishan, along with the halqa patwar of Raja Jang, Athilpur, and Bhila Hithar.

A day prior to the submission of the former prime minister’s papers, the Kasur police conducted a raid, ransacking the house and outhouse of PTI candidate Rashid Tufail. The police also allegedly raided the homes of close relatives of the PTI candidate.

On Sunday, Mr Tufail shared a voice message on social media expressing his criticism on the brutal police action but reaffirming his commitment to the PTI.

PPP central executive member and former MNA Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed also submitted his papers for NA-132 at the eleventh hour. Earlier, Mr Ahmed had been actively campaigning for NA-131.

PTI candidate for NA-131 Mehar Saleem also threw his hat into the ring for NA-132 on Sunday.

Chief organizer of Jamaat Ahle Hadit Allama Ehtisham Elahi Zaheer and Dr Nasir of the Jamaat-i-Islami are among the other notable candidates in the race.

Mr Sharif is poised to replace former MNA Malik Rasheed in NA-132, who, on Sunday, applied for PP-175, the provincial constituency under NA-132. Mr Rasheed had previously won NA-140 and NA-139 in 2013 and 2018 as a PML-N candidate.

PTI candidate Rashid Tufail is the son of Sardar Tufail Ahmed who remained MPA from 1985 to 2007 besides holding parliamentary secretary office 1985 to 88.

He was the special assistant to the chief minister from 1988 to 1990 and standing committee chairman from 1997 to 99.

Sardar Tufail, having main edge of the Rajpot clan, defeated N league candidate Rao Mazhar Hayat in 2002 for NA-138 as a PML-Q candidate. He was, however, defeated by Mr Hayat of PML-N in 2008. His son, preceding him after his death, contested the 2018 general election as a PTI candidate. He secured 49,947 votes while the winner, Malik Rasheed Ahmed of the PML-N, won by bagging 109,385 votes.

The Malik family holds sway with two MPAs and an MNA, in addition to a former district vice chairman, president of the district bar association, and a member of the Punjab Bar Council. The family also maintains close ties with the Sharif family.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2023