SAHIWAL: Four Manikas — two former brothers-in-law, one son-in-law, and one cousin of Bushra Bibi — are contesting for one national and two provincial assembly seats of Pakpattan.

Two of Kahwar Manika (ex-husband of Bushra) brothers — Ahmed Raza Manika and Farooq Manika are contesting for NA-139 and PP-193 on PML-N tickets, while Hayat Manika — son-in-law of Khawar and Bushra — is now contesting against both Farooq Manika as an independent candidate with peacock symbol. In the same manner, Farrukh Mumtaz Manika is an independent candidate with the “Huqa” symbol for NA-139.

Ahmed Manika managed PML-N tickets for his younger brother and Chaudhry Javed Ahmed against Mian Naveed Ali, who twice won on a PML-N ticket in 2013 and 2018.

Similarly, Atta Muhammad Manika’s son Hayat Manika is an independent candidate for PP-139 against Farooq Manika.

On Saturday night, Hayat Manika joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and announced supporting PTI candidate for NA-139 Rao Umer Hashim, who is contesting with the “bowl” symbol.

Rao Hasim announced Hayat Manika’s support against Farooq Manika in PP-193. This major development was announced at Rao’s dera whose family contested the 2013 and 2018 elections on PTI platforms. In 2018, Hayat Manika, being a PML-N candidate, contested the election against PTI’s Farukh Manika and was the runner-up, bagging 27,140 votes while Farukh won with 29,363 votes.

Now Faruukh Manik, who earlier joined the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party but was denied an MNA ticket, is now contesting as an independent candidate with the “Huqa” symbol for NA-139.

Atta Manika, senior parliamentarian, told Dawn that in the upcoming election, there will be a surprise vote element for the PTI, as it happened in 1970 for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He said people got rid of the PML-N and its politics in Punjab, and that is why I allowed my son to join the PTI.

“Even being an independent parliamentarian without joining any political party one can support independents in parliament,” he further explained which party his son joined because one can join PTI even after winning.

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024