MULTAN, June 30: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) seems losing its votebank in south Punjab only four months after general elections, if results of by-elections are anything to be viewed.

The party lost two seats – PP 219 in Jahanian and PP-258 in Muzaffargarh -- which it had won in the Feb 18 elections. The factor behind the loss is nepotism shown by party leaders in awarding tickets, political analysts believe.

By-elections were held on PP-219 in Jahanian, PP-229 Pakpattan, PP-243 Dera Ghazi Khan, PP-258 Muzaffargarh, PP-277 Bahawalnagar and PP-295 Rahim Yar Khan.

Only the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) fielded their candidates to face independent candidates while the MPL-Q stayed away from the process. The only seat where the PPP and the PML-N faced each other was PP-277, Minchanabad.

The PPP lost PP-219, vacated by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, to independent hopeful Karamdad Wahla. The PPP awarded ticket to Murid Husain Qureshi, the brother of Qureshi.

Even though Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited Jahanian on June 22 to boost the electioneering but his attractive package for the constituents and the absence of PML-N candidate could not help the junior Qureshi. Political analysts blame the haughty attitude of the minister and his engagements around the world caused his brother’s defeat.Irfan Aslam, a journalist from Jahanian, says in the general elections the senior Qureshi had promised to former market committee chairman Chaudhry Arsahd Arrain, Naib Tehsil Nazim Waheed Sardar Sindhu, former MPAs Khalid Iqbal Randhawa and Mian Naveed Jahanian to give them the ticket but when the time came the selection was his brother. He said even though the disgruntled personalities supported the PPP candidate but they did not take interest in electioneering. He said the package announced by the prime minister could not attract mass support as the people took the announcements `mere promises’. The judge’s issue also played a role in the PPP defeat.

Another PPP candidate Dr Muhammad Zakaullah Jatoi was defeated by independent Haroon Bukhari in PP-258.

Azam Baloch, a journalist from Muzaffargarh, said MNA Qayyum Jatoi, who vacated the seat, had also promised that for by-election the PPP candidate would be one from Khan Muhammad Jatoi, Syed Abid Shah, Rabnawaz Gopang and Akhtar Gopang. But the senior Jatoi did not keep his words and fielded his cousin. This angered other hopefuls who refused to support the Jatois. Also Abid Shah and Rabnawaz Gopang contested elections to consume votes from Jatoi’s pocket. The trick worked and helped Mr Bukhari carry the day.

The only consolation to PPP is the unopposed election of Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of the prime minister, from PP-295 in Rahim Yar Khan. The seat was vacated by PML-F candidate Syed Ahmed Mahmood. The credit for Gilani’s win can be attributed to Mr Mahmood.

Coalition partners tested each others’ strength in PP-277, a seat vacated by PML-Q’s Khadim Husain Wattoo, now a PML-N member. The PML-N awarded ticket to Fida Husain, brother of Khadim while the PPP fielded Muhammad Tariq Usman. They ended up with 32,706 and 24,862 votes.

On the other hand, the PML-N made gains in the by-polls as it also won PP-229 and PP-234.

For PP-229, PML-N’s Sardar Wajid Ali defeated independent hopeful Ahmed Shah Khagga only by 35 votes.

Zulfiqar Khosa defeated Muhammad Khan Leghari in PP-243 with a convincing majority. The seat was vacated by Saifuddin Khosa, son of the senior Khosa.

Political observers blame ‘rude’ attitude of Maqsood Leghari, father of Muhammad Khan Leghari, for his defeat. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to the Khosas prior to the poll and inauguration of a medical college also affected voters’ decision..