JHELUM, Feb 17: One-to-one contest is expected between N and Q leagues in two national and four provincial constituencies in Jhelum where the voters are mainly influenced by clanship, Thana culture and personal affiliations with political groups.

Jhelum used to be a stronghold of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), but it lost the standing after its representatives opted for supporting the party’s Shaheed Bhutto faction. However, the residents still eulogise Dr Ghulam Hussain and Qayyum Malik for their services to the party.

Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain, a son of PPP old-timer Chaudhry Mohammad Altaf, is now contesting the elections for NA-62 and 63 seats on PML-Q ticket. Shahbaz’s brother is enjoying a second term in the office of the district nazim.

In NA-62, Shahbaz Hussain is confronting Raja Mohammad Safdar of PML-N and Chaudhry Sohail Zafar of PPP. In 2002 polls, Shahbaz got 74,615 against Mr Safdar’s 51,962 and Mr Zafar’s 15,133 votes.

The NA-63 constituency is dominated by the Rajputs, Jatts, Gujjars, Kashmiris, Khokhars and Ghakkars, and this time the fight appears to be between the groups of Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf and Raja Afzal.

Raja Asad, who won the election last time, is now facing former federal minister Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain.

Though the Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf group has an entire list of development projects to its credit, still recent allegations of misuse of administrative machinery might go against its popularity.

Political circles say the strength of Raja Afzal in urban areas of Jhelum is unbeatable and his son, Raja Asad, was being supported by the Gujjars and other families.

In PP-24 (Sohawa) constituency, former MPA Chaudhry Saqlain, who succeeded in 2002 on PML-Q ticket, this time is in the run as an independent candidate and he also enjoys the sympathies of the PML-N. Mr Saqlain’s rival is a PML-N deserter Dr Abdul Qayyum. Another figure, Raja Imtiaz Kiani, who was PPP’s aspirant last time is also taking part in the polls as an independent, as the party has now awarded the ticket to Syed Hassan Bokhari.

In PP-25 (Dina), the PML-Q enjoys public support in the rural areas. During the 2002 elections, Chaudhry Tasleem Nasir contested on PML-Q ticket and bagged 38,959 votes. His opponent Mahar Faiz of PML-N secured 30,885 votes. This time, Tasleem Nasir is running as an independent candidate, while PML-Q has fielded a new face, Chaudhry Qurban Hussain. Mahar Fiaz is ticket holder of PML-N.—Hamid Asghar