GUJRAT: A clash of ‘political titans’ is expected in NA-69 (Malakwal-Qadirabad) constituency of Mandi Bahauddin as former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, his son Moonis and wife Qaisara Elahi have filed their nomination papers for this seat.

Two times (2013 and 2018) ex-PML-N MNA Nasir Iqbal Bosal, a former federal minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Fakhar Umar Lalika of PPP and Saleh Muhammad Ranjha of JI have also submitted their candidatures for the constituency.

Mr Bosal of PML-N had defeated Mr Gondal of PTI with a huge margin of around 67,000 votes in 2018.

However, Mr Gondal, a former PPP stalwart, who had already left the PTI, may opt to contest as an independent aspirant as per his own announcement at the time of leaving the PTI whereas his arch rival Nasir Bosal is again a PML-N man for the seat.

PTI President Parvez Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi had won the Punjab Assembly seat of Qadirabad under NA-69, as PML-Q candidate in 2008 and 2013, respectively, but both times they had vacated that seat which was later won by PPP’s Zulfiqar Gondal in 2008 and Akhtar Abbas Bosal of PML-N in 2013 by-polls.

Punjab Assembly former secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti has reportedly developed his strong influence in that constituency which is now known as PP-42 and his nephew Sajid Ahmed Bhatti had won that seat to become an independent MPA after a seat adjustment with Nasir Bosal group in 2018 and Mr Bhatti later joined the PML-Q.

Sources said the Parvez Elahi camp had a sizable vote bank in NA-69 due to the strong presence of Bhatti group as well as they were banking on the vote bank of PTI to compete with their old allies - the Bosals.

In NA-68 (Mandi Bahauddin city-Phalia), ex PTI MNA Haji Imtiaz, ex-PML-N MNA Mumtaz Ahmed Tarrar, Mushahid Raza Gujjar, a former PML-N ticket holder of 2018, Gujranwala division PPP president and ex-MPA Asif Basheer Bhagat, former Mandi Bahauddin district council chairman Ghulam Hussain Bosal, Raza Farooq Sahi, Arshad Gondal and others have filed their nomination papers for the coming general elections.

The district has two NA and four Punjab Assembly seats.

On PP-40 (Mandi Bahauddin city), former Punjab minister Hameeda Waheedudin of PML-N, ex MPA Tariq Sahi, former PTI ticket holder Arshad Kuku, Usman Azmat Maarth of PPP and others have filed their nomination papers.

In PP-41 (Phalia), ex-PTI MPA Tariq Tarrar of Raika, ex-PML-N MPA Tariq Yaqoob Rizvi, ex-MPA Asif Basheer Bhagat, ex-PML-Q MPA Basima Riaz Chaudhry, ex-MPA Munawar Tarrar and others have filed their papers.

Local sources said that Tariq Tarrar was no more an aspirant from PTI and Basima Riaz Chaudhry might be the PTI nominee from the constituency whereas Tariq Rizvi can again be the PML N candidate as he had been the runners-up in 2018.

On PP-42 (Qadirabad), ex-MPA Sajid Bhatti, who is now in PTI, ex-PML-N MPA Akhtar Bosal, ex-MPA Shafqat Gondal, ex MPAs Waseem Afzal Chan and Gulraiz Afzal Chan, Fakhar Umar Lalika of PPP and others filed their papers.

In PP-43 (Malakwal), ex-MPAs Waseem Afza Chan, his brother Gulraiz Afzal Chan, Arif Gondal, Shafqat Gondal, Akhtar Bosal as well as Ghulam Hussain Bosal, former PTI ticket holder Qamar Khan, a known businessman of a tea brand, and many others submitted their candidatures.

At least 208 nomination papers were filed for the total six seats of Mandi Bahauddin district while the scrutiny process was initiated on Monday.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2023