ISLAMABAD-Losers and news aspirants are keeping their fingers crossed to contest by-elections of NA-48 Islamabad most likely to be vacated by PTI President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi amidst all likelihood of his retaining his Multan constituency NA-149.
Traditionally a right-wing dominated constituency consisting of a major area of capital Islamabad, PTI stalwart Hashmi had won NA-48 in a surprise voters swing in his party's favour, the seat is most likely to be vacated on 28th May (oath taking day for National Assembly).
The upcoming by-election in this constituency has arisen hope in dozen plus likely contenders, with PTI, PML-N and Jamaat-e-Islami likely as top hopefuls. The 2013 election results, however, suggest that it will be PTI verses PML-N in by-elections too as PPP might stay away from such an exercise in near future.
The election results in NA-48 went in favour of PTI as Javed Hashmi though considered alien for this area won with a sizeable margin (7369 votes) as urbanite lower and middle class voted for PTI, and PML-N scored majority from the villages and suburbs also party of this area. Hashmi was also contesting from his hometown constituency (NA-149 Multan) where he also secured a seat for his party. Albeit PTI has still not reached on any consensus to vacate NA-149 or NA-48 yet party's insiders shared that Hashmi is interested to keep his hometown constituency with him so around five aspirants aspire to secure party ticket for the seat.
Dr. Shahzad Waseem, former Senator and former Minister of State for Interior in Shaukt Aziz cabinet, currently advisor to the Chairman PTI on Foreign Political Parties; Asad Umar, Central Vice Prsident; Faisal Javed, Dr. Israr Shah (a former PPP veteran); and name of Fouzia Qasuri, the PTI women wing leader, are on cards to get ticket this time.
Dr. Shahzad Waseem is being considered as front-runner from PTI as he has formally applied for the party ticket, said the sources. He was seen accompanying Javed Hashmi during his late starter yet marathon election meetings and public contact campaign in this constituency. His public stature apart, Dr Shahzad Wasim, a former Musharraf cronie, is not a popular figure in the lower middle, middle class vote hub of PTI in Islamabad.
The same goes for Anjum Aqeel Khan. A former teacher by profession, he took surprising leaps forward due to the property business, the same landed him behind bars in the Rs 5 billion National Police Foundation scam. PML-N insiders say that the leadership didn't want to award him ticket this time, but some of his influential supporters from Potohar region put their influence arguing that Anjum had enjoyed a lead of more than 35000 votes in elections 2008 from the same constituency which qualified him for the re-award of ticket in this election.
When contacted, PML-N candidate Anjum Aqeel was hopeful to get ticket for second time though this former MNA lose seat with around 20,000 votes margin. "I will fight and perform much better than expectations," he wished. Anjum who got the stigma of his alleged involvement in a land scandal of billions of rupees and the incident of his escape from police station with the help of his supporters, was optimistic to defeat PTI contestant with the same margin.
Another candidate from Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Mian Aslam who could secure only 25048 votes said that JI always fight for the people of country. "I will contest for second time with same vigour," he added. Known for his distinct elections canvassing style and deep pockets, Mian Aslam will in all likelihood add impetus to the expected two-way fight between PTI and PML-N. PPP's candidate Faisal Sakhi Butt, who could get only 9178 votes in the elections, was also all set to contest if Javed Hashmi vacates the NA-48. "PPP will not leave the ground and once again contest for it," he added. Known for his wealth and contacts in the area, Faisal is closely linked to Bilours of Awami National Party. But like his relatives in KPK, he also faced humiliating defeat in elections 2013 owing to performance of his party during the past five years.
Political pundits assume that the wind might once again blow in the favour of PTI in by-elections, but a close contest could be seen with PML-N this time as it will be in power in he centre and capital soon.
The results of elections 2008 had turned this constituency into a PML-N stronghold, but re-entry of JI strong candidate Aslam into the election fray, has added yet a new interesting dimension to the contest.
It is relevant to mention here that in 292142 registered votes, PML-N candidates in total 59 per cent secured votes could get 52205 votes, while Jamat-e-Islami (JI) candidate secured 25048 and PPP's candidate got 9178.
At least, 75 per cent of the total voters of NA-48 hail from urban areas, while 25 per cent of voters reside in rural areas like Golra, Sangjani, Tarnol and other villages.
In this constituency a number of government employees residing in sectors G-7, G-8, and G-9 and the remaining civil servants are living in sectors I-8, I-9, G-10 and G-11. While, the business community is spread in different sectors of the federal capital. According to the previous results of this constituency in 2008, Anjum Aqeel Khan got 61480 while Dr. Syed Israr Hussain how was contesting from PPP at that time got 26485 and Rizwan Sadiq from PML remained on third position with 10483.