GUJRAT: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could secure only one seat out of total 12 (four of the National Assembly (NA) and eight of the Punjab Assembly (PA)) in Gujrat district, with three Kotla brothers also among its losing aspirants.

Naseer Abbas Sidhu, the brother of Chief of Air Staff Zaheerudin Baber Sidhu, is the lone PML-N aspirant who was declared winner as per the unofficial results announced by the returning officer (RO) of NA-65 (Lalamusa-Dinga), where PPP’s stalwart Qamar Zaman Kaira and PTI’s Syed Wajahat Husnain Shah were also among the contestants.

This is for the second consecutive general elections that the PML-N could secure only one National Assembly (NA) seat from Gujrat district. In 2018 polls, Abid Raza Kotla had won from NA-62 (Sara-i-Alamgir-Kharian-Kotla) and now the party nominee Mr Sidhu secured NA-65 seat.

The PML-N had won three NA and seven PA seats out of total 12 in Gujrat district in 2013, whereas the party nominees had been the runners-up on 10 seats in 2018.

Party’s only winning aspirant is air chief’s brother

Surprisingly, this time the ‘N’ candidates are mostly at second or third positions in the district. As per the unofficial results announced by the ROs, the PML-N nominees stood third in at least six constituencies – NA-63 and PP-27, 29, 30, 33 and 34 – while they are runners-up in only two constituencies – NA-62 and PP-28.

The party did not nominate any candidate from NA-64 and its both PA seats, PP-31 and PP-32 (Gujrat-Kunjah), because of seat adjustment with the PML-Q.

Three Kotla brothers from the PML-N -- ex-MNA Abid Raza (NA-62), ex-MPA Shabeer Kotla (PP-28) and former Gujrat district council chairman Tanveer Kotla (PP-33), have lost the electoral race at the hands of PTI and PML-Q candidates.

Their two brothers from the rival faction of Kotla group -- Shahid Raza Kotla of PTI andNaeem Raza of PML-Q contested against each other in PP-28, with the former winning the seat.

The PML-Q nominees have been declared winner in two out of four NA and seven out of total eight PA constituencies in Gujrat district.

Sources in the PML-N ranks say that the party’s losing aspirants are much concerned about their future in the local politics due to the expected importance of PML-Q in the next government to be formed.

They say that the ‘Q’ may also dominate in the administrative affairs of Gujrat district since the party is expected to be a part of the federal as well as provincial coalition governments.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2024