SARGODHA, June 22: Byelections in PP-30 are going to be held on Monday and there is a one-to-one fight between MMA’s Mian Abdul Qadeer and PML-Q’s Zahid Iqbal Sindhu.
Having a total of 126,756 registered voters, the constituency comprises various villages falling within the three police stations, including Phulerwan, Bhalwal and Kot Momen.
This seat fell vacant after the death of Fakhar Iqbal Sindhu, brother of Zahid Iqbal Sindhu.
Zahid Sindhu enjoys the support of the government and all political stalwarts, including Neeli Bar Group of Industries’ chairman Chaudhry Mohammed Ali, provincial minister Manazir Ali Ranjha, MNA Chaudhry Ghias Mela, ex-MPA Haji Ahmad Khan, MPA Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath and ex-MPA Chaudhry Mohammed Khan.
While MMA’s Mian Abdul Qadir enjoys the support of Piracha Group, headed by ex-senator Shaikh Ehsanul Haq Piracha. He also enjoys the support of various contractors of the Bhalwal tehsil as his father Mian Naseer, a tehsil Nazim, is reportedly utilizing all resources for the success of his son. On the other hand, the chief minister and elected representatives, including the district Nazim, MNAs and ministers, are also using their powers and announcing development packages for the constituency.
During the October general election, there were four candidates in the run, and prominent amongst them were Chaudhry Fakhar Iqbal Sindhu (independent), Chaudhry Mohammed Khan Jaspal (PML-N) and Mian Abdul Qadeer (PPP). Iqbal Sindhu won the seat by bagging over 15,000 votes, but he died on April 29, 2003, due to cardiac arrest.
PML-Q’s Mehr Tariq, one of the losers, is now supporting Zahid Sindhu. During the previous elections, Manazir Ranjha had opposed the Sindhu family, but now he is supporting them reportedly on a special directive of the chief minister.
On June 8, the chief minister attended the marriage of the son of Mohammed Khan Jaspal, where he was assured by PML-N leaders that they would support Mr Sindhu. Thereafter, the chief minister spoke at a public meeting at Kot Momen where he announced development and welfare packages for the area people.
MMA leaders also held a public meeting on June 10 which was no doubt a big gathering than the chief minister’s.
It will not be out of place to mention here that the MMA alleged that CM Pervaiz Elahi, during his recent visit to Mela where he had gone to offer condolences on the death of the mother of MNA Ghias Ahmad Mela, expressed dissatisfaction over the election campaign of the government-backed candidate and directed some government officers to use their influence in this regard.
Political bigwigs of the area are supporting Zahid Sindhu and reportedly three SHOs have been changed — in Kot Momen, Phularwan and Bhalwal — to get support for the PML-Q nominee.
Political analysts believe that Mian Abdul Qadeer has no chance of winning because he does not enjoy a good reputation in the area. After losing the previous elections, he reportedly avoided to include this area in development schemes of the tehsil.
It is apprehended that there will be a low turnout as both the groups have hostile feelings against each other. Chaks 5, 6 and 19 besides all Shumali and city polling stations of Kot Momen, Phularwan and Bhalwal are considered sensitive.