GUJRAT: NA-68 (Jalalpur Jattan-Tanda) constituency is going to have an interesting contest between veteran politician Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gull of the PML-N and a 26-year-old politician, Chaudhry Hussain Elahi, of the PML-Q.

While Hussain Elahi is in the electoral arena for the first time, Mr Gull may be contesting the last election as he has hinted at this possibility because of age factor.

Hussain Elahi is the son of former federal minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain and nephew of PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, a former prime minister.

Sahibzada Mahmood Awani of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik (TLP), Hafiz Zuabir Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Chaudhary Azhar Iqbal of the PPP are also among the contestants for this seat which was NA-104 (Gujrat 1) from 2002 to 2013 and NA-80 from 1985 to 1997.

The Nawabzada family of the PML-N and the Chaudhrys of the PML-Q are considered rivals in this constituency since 1970. Analysts say the constituency has a large following of the TLP and since it mainly consists of rural areas having a strong support for the party, its candidates on this NA and two PA seats may spring a surprise.

The MMA too has its vote bank in the area as in 2002 polls its candidate, the late Qari Liaquat Naqshbandi, bagged some 9,000 votes. The MMA this time round has gone for seat adjustment with a disgruntled PTI group led by Tanveer Gondal who is contender from PP-29 (Jalalpur Jattan) as an independent aspirant.

In the 2013 elections, Nawabzada Mazhar Ali of the PML-N had won the seat by defeating former federal minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain (PML-Q) who had won the seat in 2002 and 2008 against Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gull, then a PPP candidate. Mr Gull emerged victorious here against Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, a PML-N candidate, in 1993. Earlier in 1988 and 1990, Chaudhry Tajamal Hussain of the IJI won against the Nawabzadas and Tajamal’s son Chaudhry Mubashar Hussain of the PML-N outshone Mr Gull in 1997.

In the three elections held from 1970 to 1985 the Nawabzada family won twice and their rival, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, clinched the seat in 1970.

The Nawabzada family remained affiliated with the PPP for four decades but it parted ways after inclusion of the PML-Q in the PPP-led federal government in 2011. Ghazanfar Gull did not leave the PPP when his brothers and other members of the family joined the PML-N but still the PPP did not award the ticket to him according to a seat-adjustment formula with the PML-Q.

Mr Gull then supported his elder brother Mazhar Ali who clinched the seat in 2013 and he himself was nominated by the family and the PML-N for 2018 polls as their candidate. He is said to be facing hardships due to complaints by supporters about behaviour of his family.

Both Mr Gull and Hussain Elahi are working hard by conducting door-to-door campaigns. The local PTI cadre has been very upset over their party’s seat adjustment with the PML-Q as the PTI has not been able to field a candidate on one of the two PA seats falling under this NA seat in return for extending support to the PML-Q candidate Hussain Elahi. Most PTI figures in the area have expressed sympathies for Ghazanfar Gull.

But Syed Faisal Abbas of Fatehpur, who was an aspirant for the PTI ticket from PP-29, has formally organised a meeting for Hussain Elahi, the joint candidate of the PML-Q and the PTI.

In PP-28 (Tanda) the main contest will be between former MPA Nawabzada Haider Mehdi of the PML-N and Shujaat Nawaz Ajnala of the PML-Q. Mr Ajnala was the runners-up in the last elections. Hafiz Farrukh Nadeem (TLP), Prof Rafique Kathan (PPP) and Chaudhry Riaz Hararr (MMA) are also in the run, with Mr Mehdi having a slight edge over his rivals.

In PP-29 (Jalalpur Jattan) ex-MPA retired Major Moin Nawaz Warraich of the PML-N is up against ex-MPA Abdullah Yousaf Warraich of the PML-Q. Also in the run are Dr Farhan Mir of the PPP, Tanveer Gondal (MMA-backed independent candidate), TLP’s Mehr Ali Raza and Sajid Yousaf. The main contest is expected between the PML-N and the PML-Q.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2018