MULTAN, Oct 12: The ‘who is who’ query about the newly-elected independent members of National Assembly (MNAs) has been the talk of the town since the election results indicated a split mandate for the future government at the centre.

None of the racing-to-power political parties — PML-Q, PPP and MMA — has secured even the simple majority to form the federal government single-handedly, thus, making the 29 independent winners the all important persons to grab power in Islamabad.

Of the 29 independent MNAs, five belong to the southern districts of Punjab. They are Hamid Yar Hiraj, Rana Tariq Javed, Nasrullah Khan Dreshak, Syed Sohail Hasan Gillani and Makhdoom Ahmed Alam Anwar.

Elected to NA-157 (Khanewal-II), Hamid Yar Hiraj is the brother of Khanewal district Nazim Ahmed Yar Hiraj and the son of former MPA Sardar Allah Yar Hiraj. Before the general election, Hirajs were in the Pakitan People’s Party and the party played a pivotal role to help Ahmad Yar win the election of the district Nazim last year.

They had been in the party even on the last date for the allotment of symbols but at the 11th hour, the Hirajs opted for the independent election symbol of ‘hockey’. Hamid Yar’s cousin, Raza Hayat Hiraj, contested on a PPP ticket in NA-156 (Khanewal-I), and trounced PML-Q ideologue Syed Fakhar Imam.

When the local party cadre expressed annoyance, Allah Yar Hiraj tried to pacify them by claiming that it was an ‘expedient’ decision and the workers would be more than happy with the outcome. Despite being an independent candidate, Hiraj claimed of enjoying the support of the PPP during his election campaign. Now, it has to be seen whom he will support at the centre; PPP or he will fall prey again to his father’s expediency.

MNA-elect from NA-161 (Sahiwal-II) Rana Tariq Javed is the brother of Sahiwal tehsil Nazim Rana Amer Shahzad. He succeeded with the active support of PPP’s MNA-elect Noraiz Shakoor from NA-160. The Shakoor-Shahzad alliance worked on Oct 10, besides Shahzad’s coffers.

Noraiz Shakoor supported Rana Tariq Javed against his party’s former MNA Ghulam Farid Kathia. On Kathia’s complaint, the party also issued a “show-cause notice” to Noriaz but he remained unmoved. Time will tell how loyal Noraiz is to his party.

Former MNA and provincial minister Nasrullah Dreshak has returned from NA-175 (Rajanpur-II). He forged an electoral alliance with the Legahris of the Millat Party. But he and his son, Hasnain Bahadur in PP-248 and cousin Amanullah Khan in PP-249 opted to contest the elections as independent candidates with the symbol of ‘tonga’. The Dreshaks won the seats of their respective constituencies.

Nasrullah Dreshak and Millat Party chief Farooq Leghari have been allies since the general election of 1997. But insiders say Dreshak can even decide his future course of action on his own keeping in view who is forming the government at the centre.

Syed Sohail Hasan Gillani, elected to NA-183 (Bahawalpur-I), is the nephew of incarcerated PPP vice-president Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani. Interestingly, NA-103 was the only constituency of the five National Assembly seats of Bahawalpur where the PPP did not field its candidate. It is now the matter of a few days to see whether or not the PPP decision has paid dividends.

MNA-elect to NA-192 Rahim Yar Khan-I, Makhdoom Ahmed Alam Anwar, is another PPP dissident who left the party at the 11th hour to keep options open after returning to the National Assembly. After his defection, the PPP had to award its ticket to Haji Saifullah Khan, a minister in the Junejo cabinet of 1985, against the Makhdooms.

But the adjustment could not work as the Rahim Yar Khan district Nazim and kingmaker of the local politics, Makhddom Ahmed Mehmood, came to his rescue. Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood has become famous for helping pro-establishment candidates succeed in his district. Victories of Hamayoon Akhtar Khan in the 1997 polls, Jehangir Tareen in NA-195 and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi in PP-292 from Rahim Yar Khan are his miracles.

Therefore, Ahmed Mehmood will influence Ahmed Alam Anwar’s decision, though the latter can decide otherwise if the PML-Q is not going to form the next federal government.