SAHIWAL: Seasoned politician Mian Ata Manika from Pakpattan has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming election, citing perceived unfair treatment by the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif during award of tickets in his tehsil.

Speaking to Dawn over the phone, he expressed disappointment, stating that he had been promised tickets by Mian Shehbaz Sharif, but the elder Sharif did not award tickets to him and his son, Hayat Manika.

A week ago, Ata Manika and his son had declared their intention to contest the election as independent candidates, but now, he has decided to withdraw from the upcoming elections.

Although Ata Manika did not participate in the 2018 election, the PML-N had awarded a ticket to his son Hayat Manika, who finished as the runner-up against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Fakhar Mumtaz Manika, securing 27,140 votes.

With Ata Manika’s withdrawal, the PML-N contesting candidates now consist of two groups - one led by Ahmed Raza Manika and the other by Mian Naveed Ali.

This situation emerged after the announcement of PML-N tickets in Pakpattan tehsil where tickets were awarded to Ahmed Raza Manika, his brother Farooq Ahmed Manika, and Chaudhry Javed for NA-139, PP-193 and PP-194, respectively.

The PML-N leadership had overlooked local figures and former parliamentarians Pir Tariq Shah Khagga, Mian Naveed Ali, Ata Muhammad Manika, and his son Hayat Manika.

Mian Naveed Ali, a two-time MPA winner from PP-194 on PML-N tickets in 2013 and 2018, expressed dissatisfaction at not being awarded a ticket. He openly accused the Sharifs of “ditching” and granting a ticket to an individual introduced to politics by his late father, Rana Ahmed Ali, who was murdered by his bodyguards at his outhouse.

Local political observers believed that Mian Sabtain, a Dubai-based businessman from Pakpattan, was nominated by Mian Naveed in his father’s murder case under section 109. Later, Sabtain, who was a business partner of late Mian Ahmed Ali, allied with Ahmed Raza Manika to get himself exonerated from the murder case. Many believed Mian Sabtain had connections with Rana Sanaullah of Faisalabad and it was Sabtain’s lobbying that deprived Main Naveed of PML-N ticket. Ata Manika said he had no differences with the Sharifs but lobbying of Sabtain resulted in award of tickets to Ahmed Raza Manika and his team.

Ata Manika said many loyal supporters of “Chota Mian Sahib” failed to secure tickets.

Mian Atta, a gold medalist from Government College, Lahore (1966), has served as chairman of the Market Committee Pakpattan during 1980-83 and chairman of the District Council Pakpattan during 1991-93. He has been a National Assembly member during 1989-90. He served as MPA during 1993-96 (worked as education minister), in 2002-07 and 2008-13. He made it to the Punjab Assembly for the fourth term in 2013 and performed as religious affairs minister.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2024