GUJRAT: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) may face a backlash from its Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin chapters in the upcoming elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly for awarding ticket to a PML-Q backed candidate, instead of the one recommended by its local organisations and lawmakers from both districts.

The AJ&K constituency, LA-38, which was previously LA-34 (Jammu 5), comprised the Kashmiri immigrants settled in Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin districts and Wazirabad tehsil of Gujranwala. The constituency’s number has been changed following enhancement of five seats of the assembly.

The AJ&K assembly elected in July 2016 is set to complete its term on July 30, 2021.

AS per AJ&K constitution, the fresh elections should be held within 60 days before the completion of the assembly’s five years term.

Though the election schedule is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the parties have begun preparations for the poll by holding consultations and nominating their respective candidates.

PML-N too in a fix over candidate for LA-38

The PTI has announced ticket for a former minister of AJ&K, Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, who belongs to the PML-Q, a key ally of the ruling party in the federal and Punjab governments.

The Gujrat district PTI president, MPA Saleem Sarwar Jaura, along with other party lawmakers and officials had jointly recommended Chaudhry Zubair Tanda as a party candidate for LA-38 for the 2021 AJ&K poll.

Sources said that after the party leadership announced ticket for Q-backed Mr Ibrahim, its local chapter conveyed their concern to a senior party leader, Saifullah Niazi, over the decision.

They added that since the decision, various PTI officials and lawmakers had been weighing different options to express their annoyance at the decision, that included fielding an independent candidate or silently supporting to some other strong aspirant.

They said in 2016 AJ&K elections too, the local PTI chapter did not support the joint candidate of PTI and PML-Q, Afzal Malhi, in protest. Instead they backed Akbar Ibrahim, who had contested as an independent candidate then, and finished as runner-up, against the winner, Haji Javed Akhtar of PML-N, whereas Mr Malhi stood third.

On the other hand, the PML-N is also in a fix with regard to nominating its candidate, since Javed Akhtar, who won that LA seat for three times and is a member of the AJ&K cabinet, has demanded the party ticket for his son Qasim Javed, whereas the party’s Gujrat chapter has recommended a newcomer, Zeeshan Younis, from Tanda for the ticket.

Though the constituency comprised roughly two-and-a-half districts, an overwhelming majority of the voters belongs to Gujrat district’s mostly rural areas of Tanda, Karianwala and Jalalpur Jattan city. That is why the candidates belonging to those areas would often win the election.

For instance, Mr Ibrahim, who too belonged to Tanda, had won twice -- in 2006 and 2011-- whereas Mr Akhtar, who is from Pero Shah locality of Karinwala, won three times -- in 1996, 2001 (on PPP ticket) and 2016 (as a PML-N nominee). Both candidates belong to dominant Gujjar clan. Whereas, the PPP-backed Raja Basi Muhmmad of Jalalpur Jattan had won in 1989 and Shahid Hameed of Hariyewala won in 1991 with the support of the Muslim Conference and Chaudharys of PML-Q.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-i-Islami has pitched Rana Mudabbar Siddique from Jalalpur Jattan and Raja Shahid Iqbal is being fielded by the Muslim Conference. The PPP is also likely to field a candidate in LA-38.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2021