GUJAR KHAN, Jan 7: Floored by Benazir Bhutto’s assassination politicos in Gujar Khan are gradually stirring though the electioneering mood is still down and out. The electorate is depressed, unresponsive. Sympathies have swung in favour of the slain leader’s party and even those who were previously angry have returned to the fold.
But it is being felt that it was time local leadership garnered the fresh wave of support through reorganisation of the party at the ward, town and district levels as PPP’s rival parties are already in the field to repair the dents in their vote banks.
Former MNA and Peoples Party Parliamentarians’ secretary- general Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is looking forward to an easy victory in NA-51 although since 2002 he has not been very much amongst his supporters. On the other hand PML-Q candidate Raja Qasim Jawaid Ikhlas, is banking on local bodies support under his father, Raja Jawaid Ikhlas, city district nazim, who is very well connected having been the MPA from PP-11 (PP-4) constituency from 1985-2002 when he enjoyed the support of a united PML. Bhutto’s murder has polarised the pro- and ant-PPP voters.
The PML-Q candidates for provincial assembly seats, Chaudhry Jawaid Kausar (PP-3) and Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti (PP-4), are PPP turncoats who before the assassination were being supported by partymen unhappy with Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and other local leaders. The tragedy at Liaquat Bagh appears to have undone that negative support. This would also affect the prospects of Qasim Ikhlas on the NA seat. Similarly Brig Muhammad Hassan of PPP seems to be on a strong footing against Raja Shaukat Aziz Bhatti who was being considered a potential challenge before the assassination.
Chaudhry Jawaid Kausar of PML-Q in PP-3 is facing two rivals — former MPA Raja Tariq Kiani of PPP and Chaudhry Iftikhar Warsi of PML-N. Delay in elections has benefited Warsi who now has sufficient time for campaigning after his late entry. Tariq Kiani in the meanwhile is eying the sympathy vote. But the most significant factor is the vicious propaganda drive that the Chaudhrys of Gujrat have launched against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sharifs. it is to be seen if that would cause some tilt in favour of the King’s party.
Analysts of the scene are suggesting that the anti-Zardari factor, if that works, would not benefit the ‘Q’ League but would go in favour of PML-N as the PML-Q supporters are not comfortable with this negative approach of the king’s party. The image of Nawaz Sharif has risen in their eyes since his visit to Naudero to condole with the bereaved family amid volatile conditions. He is being regarded as the leader who can strengthen national unity.
