Special report on by-elections in PP-160
PML-N, PTI, JI kick off by-poll campaigns
* Seat fell vacant after Rana Mubashir resigned over fake BA degree g Polling set to begin on June 24
By Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have begun their by-election campaign in PP-160, which fell vacant after the resignation of Rana Mubashir of the PML-N, who was found to have had a fake BA degree.
Polling for the constituency is set to be held on June 24.
According to the final list issued by the Election Commission, 12 candidates are in the run for the vacant seat, including three from the PML-N, PTI and JI. The names of the candidates and their symbols are: PML-Ns Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar (Tiger), PTIs Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar (Telephone), JIs Malik Jahangir Hussain Bara (Fan) and independent candidates Chaudhry Mansib Ali Jatt, Rana Muhammed Dastgir, Afzal Masood, Malik Shafiq Bara, Imran Shafiq, Malik Zaman Khokhar, Malik Yunus Awan, Naeem Asghar Butt and Syed Atif Ali Shah.
Registered votes in PP-160 are 187,842 and average votes polled in the previous elections are around 77,000, which is more than 40 percent of the total votes. In the 2008 general elections, the PML-Ns Rana Mubashar Iqbal had obtained 42,056 votes, PPP candidate Amjad Ali Jutt scored 18,272 votes and PML-Qs ticket holder Malik Muhammad Akram Khokhar 14,831 votes.
There are six complete union councils and some parts of two other union councils in the constituency UC-117, 118, 119,120, 145 and 147 are the councils that are completely included in the constituency, while some parts of UC-143 and 144 are also included in it. The major areas of the constituency are Mansoora, Mustafa Town, Johar Town, Sattu Katla, Wapda Town, Tech Society, PCSIR Colony, Nasheeman Iqbal Society, Ittefaq Town, Sher Shah Colony, Dhoop Sarri, Dubai Town, Canal View Society, Jia Bagga, Gaju Matta and Chamroo Pur.
According to a survey conducted by Daily Times, the JI has around 12,000 votes in the constituency, as Mansoora the partys headquarters is also located in PP-160. Interestingly, JI candidate Jahangir Bara had initially made several efforts to get the PTIs ticket, but eventually failed after Zaheer Abbas Khokhar approached the party for its ticket.
Jahangir Bara later contacted the JI and succeeded in getting the partys ticket. According to the survey, Jahangirs first applying to the PTI before getting the JI ticket has resulted in a drop in his credibility among voters. The drop could see around 5,000 to 6,000 JI votes swing in favour of the PTI. PTI candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar is a former PPP MNA. He is the nephew and son-in-law of Malik Karamat Khokhar, who is a seasoned politician and has been with the PPP from the start of his political career.
His reputation amongst locals is much better than the other two candidates. Although Zaheer Abbas is contesting the by-elections on the PTIs ticket, it is expected that some percentage of the PPP vote bank will support him due to the reputation of his uncle. PML-N candidate Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar started his political career as union council nazim in the 90s. He introduced his brother Afzal Khokhar into politics because he could not fulfill the BA degree requirement in the 2008 general elections.
Both the PML-N and PTI have started their door-to-door campaigns in the constituency and have held scheduled public meetings. According to the survey, the PML-N has a good vote bank in the city as it is one of the base camps of the party, but most people are annoyed with the party rulers and their policies, which are not facilitating the masses in general and this could see the partys vote bank fall by 2,000 to 4,000.
On the other hand, around 32,000 votes of the PML-Q and the PPP could possibly shift towards the PTI, as both parties have not put up their contestants, while a good number of the JIs votes are also expected to swing towards the PTI candidate.
I am actually not in favor of giving tickets to dynastic politicians and was hoping Murad Ross could get the ticket for PP160, who is also from this constituency and has been working day and night to organize Pakistan Tehrek Insaf in this constituency. You could listen to his interview here
http://www.insaf.pk/Media/Videos/ta...ow-zonal-president-Lahore-August-14-2009.aspx
However, this could be the first time that Tehrek Insaf has understood how the politics of pakistan actually work. It is also interesting to Note that Jahngir Bara, who is JI's candidate also approached PTI to give their ticket to him. this suggests the PTI's Brand Name on ground is really attractive and people are finally jumping on the Bandwagon. PTI is the only party that could challenge PML(N) in Northern and Central Punjab now.
PML-N, PTI, JI kick off by-poll campaigns
* Seat fell vacant after Rana Mubashir resigned over fake BA degree g Polling set to begin on June 24
By Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have begun their by-election campaign in PP-160, which fell vacant after the resignation of Rana Mubashir of the PML-N, who was found to have had a fake BA degree.
Polling for the constituency is set to be held on June 24.
According to the final list issued by the Election Commission, 12 candidates are in the run for the vacant seat, including three from the PML-N, PTI and JI. The names of the candidates and their symbols are: PML-Ns Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar (Tiger), PTIs Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar (Telephone), JIs Malik Jahangir Hussain Bara (Fan) and independent candidates Chaudhry Mansib Ali Jatt, Rana Muhammed Dastgir, Afzal Masood, Malik Shafiq Bara, Imran Shafiq, Malik Zaman Khokhar, Malik Yunus Awan, Naeem Asghar Butt and Syed Atif Ali Shah.
Registered votes in PP-160 are 187,842 and average votes polled in the previous elections are around 77,000, which is more than 40 percent of the total votes. In the 2008 general elections, the PML-Ns Rana Mubashar Iqbal had obtained 42,056 votes, PPP candidate Amjad Ali Jutt scored 18,272 votes and PML-Qs ticket holder Malik Muhammad Akram Khokhar 14,831 votes.
There are six complete union councils and some parts of two other union councils in the constituency UC-117, 118, 119,120, 145 and 147 are the councils that are completely included in the constituency, while some parts of UC-143 and 144 are also included in it. The major areas of the constituency are Mansoora, Mustafa Town, Johar Town, Sattu Katla, Wapda Town, Tech Society, PCSIR Colony, Nasheeman Iqbal Society, Ittefaq Town, Sher Shah Colony, Dhoop Sarri, Dubai Town, Canal View Society, Jia Bagga, Gaju Matta and Chamroo Pur.
According to a survey conducted by Daily Times, the JI has around 12,000 votes in the constituency, as Mansoora the partys headquarters is also located in PP-160. Interestingly, JI candidate Jahangir Bara had initially made several efforts to get the PTIs ticket, but eventually failed after Zaheer Abbas Khokhar approached the party for its ticket.
Jahangir Bara later contacted the JI and succeeded in getting the partys ticket. According to the survey, Jahangirs first applying to the PTI before getting the JI ticket has resulted in a drop in his credibility among voters. The drop could see around 5,000 to 6,000 JI votes swing in favour of the PTI. PTI candidate Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokhar is a former PPP MNA. He is the nephew and son-in-law of Malik Karamat Khokhar, who is a seasoned politician and has been with the PPP from the start of his political career.
His reputation amongst locals is much better than the other two candidates. Although Zaheer Abbas is contesting the by-elections on the PTIs ticket, it is expected that some percentage of the PPP vote bank will support him due to the reputation of his uncle. PML-N candidate Malik Saiful Malook Khokhar started his political career as union council nazim in the 90s. He introduced his brother Afzal Khokhar into politics because he could not fulfill the BA degree requirement in the 2008 general elections.
Both the PML-N and PTI have started their door-to-door campaigns in the constituency and have held scheduled public meetings. According to the survey, the PML-N has a good vote bank in the city as it is one of the base camps of the party, but most people are annoyed with the party rulers and their policies, which are not facilitating the masses in general and this could see the partys vote bank fall by 2,000 to 4,000.
On the other hand, around 32,000 votes of the PML-Q and the PPP could possibly shift towards the PTI, as both parties have not put up their contestants, while a good number of the JIs votes are also expected to swing towards the PTI candidate.
I am actually not in favor of giving tickets to dynastic politicians and was hoping Murad Ross could get the ticket for PP160, who is also from this constituency and has been working day and night to organize Pakistan Tehrek Insaf in this constituency. You could listen to his interview here
http://www.insaf.pk/Media/Videos/ta...ow-zonal-president-Lahore-August-14-2009.aspx
However, this could be the first time that Tehrek Insaf has understood how the politics of pakistan actually work. It is also interesting to Note that Jahngir Bara, who is JI's candidate also approached PTI to give their ticket to him. this suggests the PTI's Brand Name on ground is really attractive and people are finally jumping on the Bandwagon. PTI is the only party that could challenge PML(N) in Northern and Central Punjab now.
