MUZAFFARGARH, Dec 25: The decision to boycott elections by former Punjab governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar and the absence of Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan from the political scene for good due to his death have dampened enthusiasm of voters in the Muzaffargarh district once known for great political hustle bustle.

The district has five national assembly and 11 provincial assembly seats.

In NA-176, PPP candidate Mohsin Qureshi will defend his seat against PML-Q candidate Qasim Hinjra and PML-N candidate Arshad Abbas Qureshi. Mr Qureshi is the husband of Khalida Mohsin, the former MNA from this constituency.

While Qasim Hinjra is a nephew of former district nazim Sultan Hinjra and Arshad Abbas Qureshi is the son of former MNA Ghulam Abbas Qureshi.

In PP-251, the PPP candidate Barrister Yousaf Hinjra is facing PML-Q’s Ahmed Yar Hinjra, PML-N’s Aslam Hinjra and MMA’s Maulana Jalil Qadri. But the trump card lies with the MMA candidate who has the backing of the banned outfit Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). All the three NA candidates are also trying to win Mr Qadri’s support in turn for supporting him in the PP-251.

In PP-252, the PML-Q has fielded Tariq Gurmani against PPP’s Engineer Bilal Khar, PML-N’s Khalid Khar and independent Muddassir Khar. A tough contest is expected between Mr Khar, Mr Gurmani and Mr Bilal Khar.

In PP-253, Ehsanul Haq Naulatia of PPP, Murtaza Rahim Khar of PML-Q and Tahir Miladi Khar of PML-N are in the field.

In NA-177, the PPP has awarded ticket to Hina Rabbani Khar and the PML-Q to Khalid Gurmani. The PML-N has introduced a newcomer, Basit Khar.

Hina Khar is the daughter of former MNA Noor Rabbani Khar, the brother of Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar. Khalid Gurmani is the brother of former MPA Tariq Gurmani.

Noor Rabbani Khar is running the election campaign of Hina Khar who has been out of the scene since her marriage on Dec 16 in Lahore.

Since Hina has not invited anyone to her marriage from this constituency, the rival candidates are trying to cash in on in their election campaign.

Another factor damaging her repute is that her brother Malik Khaliq Khar is contesting elections from the PML-N ticket for PP-255, which falls under NA-177 constituency.

In PP-254, PPP’s Irshad Sial, PML-Q’s Tehmina Dasti and two independent candidates, Nasir Taraggur and Muna Sheikh, are in contest.

In PP-255, the PML-N has awarded the ticket to Khaliq Khar while the PPP and PML-Q have given tickets to Rana Mahboob Akhtar and Jawad Kamran Khar, respectively. Nawazish Qalandrani is contesting as an independent.

Rana Mahboob Akhtar is a former CSP officer while Khaliq Khar is a retired army officer.

In NA-178, the PDP candidate is Nawabzada Mansoor Khan while the PML-Q has pitted his brother Nawabzada Iftikhar Khan against him. The PPP has nominated Jamshed Dasti.

Former MNA Shahid Jameel Qureshi, who had been elected from this constituency in the last elections, is behind bars in a murder case of Kafila Siddiqi.

Nawabzada Mansoor Khan is also contesting from PP-256.

In PP-257, the MMA candidate has fielded Qaswar Langrial while other candidates are PPP’s Jam Mazhar, PML-Q’s Aun Dogar and PDP’s Nawabzada Muhammad Ahmed Khan, the son of Nawabzada Mansoor Khan.

In NA-179, a neck-to-neck fight is expected between PML-Q candidate Basit Sultan Bukhari and PPP’s Mozama Ali Jatoi, the brother-in-law of Qayyum Khan Jatoi who is the former district nazim and the MNA.

Nawabzada Mansoor Khan has already withdrawn in favour of PML-Q candidate. In return, the PML-Q will favour his son Nawabzada Muhammad Ahmed Khan in PP-257.

In PP-258, the main candidates are PPP’s Sardar Qayyum Khan Jatoi, PML-Q’s Haroon Sultan Bukhari and PML-N’s Atta Qureshi.

In NA-180, a tough battle is likely between PPP’s Qayyum Jatoi and PML-Q’s Ashiq Gopang, the former MNA from this constituency.

In PP-260, the PML-Q has awarded the ticket to Syed Afzal Mustafa while other candidates are Shahzad Rasool Jatoi (ind) and Dr Iqbal Makwal (PML-N).

Only two candidates are in the race for PP-261 constituency. The PML-Q has fielded his candidate Amir Talal Gopang against independent candidate Syed Makdoom Raza Bukhari.