LAHORE: The political landscape is heating up in the district of Khanewal as two major rival groups Syed and Hiraj are up against each other on different constituencies.

The district, which boasts a population of 19 million, has three tehsils Kabirwala, Mian Channu, Jahaniyan, and Khanewal and has four national and eight provincial assembly seats up for grabs.

The first national constituency, NA-144 Kabirwala, is of significant interest as it sees two traditional rival groups, the Hiraj and Syed, contesting against each other after 35 years. Independent candidates Syed Abid Imam, son of Syed Fakhar Imam, and Raza Hayat Hiraj, who is head of Hiraj group, are in the fray, with PML-N fielding Pir Mukhtar Hussain Shah. The contest is expected to be primarily between the Syed and Hiraj groups.

Two provincial assembly constituencies, PP-205 and PP-212, fall under NA-144. PP-205 sees Murtaza Hussain Shah of PML-N, Akbar Hayat Hiraj, and Dr. Khawar Shah contesting as independent candidates. In PP-212, PML-N has fielded Rana Irfan Ahmed, with Hussain Jahaniya and Mehr Asghar Hayat Hiraj as independents. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is backing Shahbaz Siyal Advocate.

In NA-145, PML-N has fielded Muhammad Khan Daha, with Hamid Yar Hiraj running as an independent. Rana Abdul Rahman represents PPP, and PTI is backing retired Col Abid Mehmoud Khagha. The provincial constituencies are PP-206 and PP-211. Major candidates for PP-206 include Ahmad Yar Hiraj as an independent, Barrister Osama Rao of PML-N, and PTI-backed Husnain Shah.

In PP-211, PML-N has awarded ticket to Rana Saleem, with PTI backing Imran Dhool and PPP fielding Masood Majeed. The contest is expected to be primarily between PML-N and PTI.

NA-146 sees a host of candidates, including Pir Aslam Bodla from PML-N, Pir Zahoor Qureshi from PTI, Hafiz Muhammad Siddique from TLP, Shahid Bashir from PPP, Abdul Aziz from JUI-F, Ghulam Haider from JI, and eight others as independents. The contest is expected to be neck and neck between PML-N’s Mr. Bodla and PTI’s Mr. Qureshi.

The provincial assembly constituencies are PP-207 and PP-208. PP-207 sees PTI-backed Ali Abbas Shah, PML-N’s Aamir Hayat Hiraj, and Parvez Akhtar as independent candidates. A close contest is expected between Mr. Shah and Hiraj. In PP-208, PML-N’s Babar Japani, PTI-backed Jamshed Arain, and PPP’s Wahab Sultan are contesting, with the competition expected to be between PML-N and PTI.

In NA-147, the candidates include PML-N’s Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party’s (IPP) Nawabzada Ayaz Niazi, and PTI-backed Mian Naveed Jahaniyan. In its provincial assembly, IPP president Aleem Khan is contesting against PML-N’s Ziaur Rahman in PP-209, and a tough contest is expected in this constituency. PP-210 candidates include Karamdad Wahla as an independent, Haji Attaur Rahman from PML-N, and Mujtaba Metla from IPP.

Interestingly, IPP had seat adjustment with PML-N in some other constituencies of the province but NA-147 is witnessing contest between PML-N and IPP.

Political analyst Aamir Hussaini told Dawn that there was tough competition between the Hiraj and Syed groups in NA-144, and the Syed succeeded in winning the support of a former member of the Hiraj group in the district council.

He said although PTI was also backing a candidate in NA-144, the Syed group did not disown the PTI openly, which could also help them win the election.

He said PML-N was strong on two NA seats, 145 and 146, while PML-N’s Iftikhar Nazeer’s position is weakening in NA-147 as IPP president Aleem Khan is contesting on a provincial assembly seat from this constituency. Their NA candidate Ayaz Niazi had caste-based votes and also won support from the Arain biradari of the constituency.

He said PTI-backed candidates could have won had they been allowed to continue their campaign.

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, February 2nd, 2024