LAHORE: As the general elections are approaching fast, political and social experts are predicting intense contests in Lodhran district, where Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) chief is also contesting for a National Assembly seat — NA-155.

The district, with a population of 1.9 million, is divided into three tehsils: Kahror Pakka, Dunyapur, and Lodhran. It has two National Assembly seats (NA-154 and NA-155) and four provincial assembly seats (PP-225, 226, 227, and PP-228).

The district’s political landscape is largely rural and influenced by biradari/caste-based affiliations. Major political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), have fielded candidates for both national assembly seats. The Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) of Jahangir Khan Tareen, is also contesting on one of the NA seats.

In the NA-154 constituency, which includes Kahror Pakka and Dunyapur city, the main contenders include the PML-N’s Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, PTI-backed Rana Faraz Ahmad Noon, an independent Akhtar Khan Kanju, and PPP’s Imdad Ullah Abbasi.

For the PP-225 seat, which comprises Dunyapur tehsil, the candidates include Zawar Warriach of the PML-N, independent Jahangir Bhutta, and PTI-backed Shazia Hayatullah Tareen.

In PP-226, having major areas of Kahror Pakka tesil, candidates include Shah Muhammad Joyia of the PML-N, PTI-backed Nawab Raziullah Khan and Mahmood Nawaz Joiya, an independent.

For NA-155, IPP’s Jahangir Khan Tareen is contesting against PML-N’s Siddique Khan Baloch, PTI-backed Advocate Iffat Tahira, and PPP’s Rana Azhar Uthera. This constituency includes the Lodhran district headquarters and rural areas.

Political pundits are expecting a tough competition between IPP’s Tareen and PML-N’s Baloch in this constituency.

For the PP-227 seat, which covers Lodhran city, the candidates include IPP’s Maher Ashraf Siyal, PPP’s Sajjad Rehan, PML-N’s Zubair Khan Baloch, and PTI-backed Nawab Amanullah Khan.

In PP-228, comprising Lodhran’s rural areas, has IPP’s Nazeer Khan Baloch, PML-N’s Syed Rafiuddin Shah Bukhari, and PTI-backed Capt Izzat Javed are candidates.

Local political observers say that tough contests are expected for Lodhran’s both NA seats, with PML-N candidates appearing stronger as compared to other parties’ candidates. He says that Mr Kanju is leading in NA-154, while PTI-backed Mr Noon also appears to be a strong contestant, having won the support of IPP patron-in-chief Mr Tareen.

According to them, in NA-155, Mr Baloch had defeated IPP chief Mr Tareen in 2013 and his son in a 2017 by-election, but Mr Tareen has re-entered the arena with a new party this time, which may affect the voting trend.

They suggest that Mr Baloch’s continuous presence in the constituency and his caste-based votes may benefit him, while Mr Tareen’s absence could affect his vote bank in the area.

In the provincial assembly constituencies, they predict a tough competition between PML-N’s Mr Warraich and PTI-backed Shazia Hayat Tareen in PP-225.

An observer Adnan Joya says that IPP chief Mr Tareen is supporting the PTI-backed Nawab Raziullah against Shah Muhammad Joiya of the PML-N in PP-226.

According to Joya, PML-N’s Zubair Khan Baloch, son of Siddique Khan Baloch, appears to be a stronger candidate than both IPP and PTI-backed candidates in PP-227.

He says that the PML-N’s Syed Rafeeuddin Bukhari, a three-time MPA, was contesting against PTI-backed Izzat Javed Khan and IPP’s Nazeer Khan Baloch in PP-228.

He believes that the PMLN and PTI-backed candidates were stronger than those of the IPP.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024

Header image: This photo combo shows PML-N’s Siddique Khan Baloch (L) and IPP’s Jahangir Khan Tareen (R). — File photos

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