MULTAN, Oct 6: Triangular contests are expected on almost all the six national and 13 provincial constituencies of the district.

The PPP and the PML-N have fielded candidates against all the seats whereas the PML-QA has made adjustments with the Millat Party under the banner of the Grand National Alliance at some seats. In some constituencies, candidates of both the NA and the PML-QA are rivals.

The Qureshis, Gilanis, Gardezis, Bosans, Raans, Noons, Khakwanis, Syeds and Laangs rule the roost in rural Multan. Some of them also enjoy influence on urban population.

In urban Multan, Ansaris, Dogars, Laabers, Shaikhs and Bhuttas have their own pockets of influence. All the main political parties or alliances have awarded tickets generously to the scions of these clans.

Despite all the spate of official pressure and wheeling-dealing, a very small number of local heavyweights have shifted their loyalties to join the PML-QA. They (the turncoats) have a history of defections in their political career.

For instance, Syed Tanvirul Hasan Gilani who was a PPP candidate in 1993 and 1997 elections from former NA-116 has joined the PML-QA for the upcoming elections. He was elected MNA on IJI ticket in 1990. In 1993, when the PML-N awarded ticket to Shaikh Tahir Rasheed, the dejected Gilani opted for the PPP ticket, and now he has joined the Q-League.

Except ex-MNA Rana Taj Noon, the Noons of Shujabad have a tradition of being turncoats. Rana Shaukat Noon was an IJI candidate in 1988 against his cousin, Rana Taj, of the PPP for NA-149. When the IJI allotted ticket to Syed Javed Shah in the 1990 polls, Shaukat Noon manoeuvred to have PPP ticket. In 1997, the Noons had none of the two main political parties’ ticket, and Rana Qasim Noon secured only 1,780 votes as an independent. Qasim Noon, the brother of Shujabad tehsil Nazim, is the other heavyweight who has joined the PML-QA.

The other major defection is of Sikandar Hayat Bosan who was elected MNA from former NA-114 for the first time in 1997 against Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on PML-N ticket. He was a ‘like-minded’ candidate for Multan district Nazimship against Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Yousaf Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi are in jails facing NAB trial which they could avoid like many of PML-QA stalwarts. Unexpectedly, Shah Mahmood Qureshi revolted against the presidential referendum at the cost of his nazimship powers. Like the Karachi city Nazim, he also distanced himself from the referendum.

Former PML-N MPA Maulvi Sultan Alam Ansar joined the like-minded faction of the League during the local polls.

NA-148 covers the areas of Qadirpur Raan, Budhla Sant, Lotharr, Riazabad and Makhdoom Rasheed. Sardar Muhammad Akram Sandhu (PTI), Makhdoom Syed Ghulam Yazdani Gilani (NA), Shah Mahmood Qureshi (PPP) and Javed Hashmi (PML-N) are in the arena. Yazdani Gilani was once an independent candidate from former NA-114 in 1988 and polled only 366 votes. The PTI candidate is also a non-entity.

The most interesting contest is between Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Javed Hashmi. Of the two electoral bouts fought between them in former NA-120 (Multan-cum-Khanewal), Shah Mahmood won in 1993 and Javed Hashmi in 1997.

Hashmi’s daughter Mamoona, a PML-N candidate for NA against the seats reserved for women, is doing electioneering for her father.

PP-201 and PP-202 fall under NA-148. Four candidates are in the run for PP-201, but a neck-and-neck contest is on cards between Malik Arshad Raan (PPP) and Malik Mazhar Abbas Raan (PML-N). Shah Mahmood Qureshi is focusing more in the areas which come under this PA seat to ensure both his and Arshad Raan’s success as ex-MPA Mazhar Raan is also using his influence to poll maximum votes to Javed Hashmi.

Seven are in the field for PP-202. However, there will be a tough fight between Dr Akhtar Malik (PML-N) and Rai Mansab Ali (PPP). Again a neck-n-neck contest which has given sleepless nights to Shah Mahmood.

NA-149 comprises urban localities of Gulgasht, Khanewal Road, Shamsabad, Officers Colony, Qadeerabad, Ghanta Ghar, Walled City, Nawan Shehr and city railway station. Nine candidates are in the arena, but the main contenders are Iqbal Khakwani (PML-N), Shaikh Khizar Hayat (MMA), Muhammad Kahlid Khan Khakwani (PML-QA) and Malik Liaquat Dogar (PPP).

Former provincial minister Iqbal Khakwani, who has recently graduated to qualify for the elections, is vying for the NA seat for the first time. PML-QA’s candidate is his cousin and the son of former Multan mayor Nawab Qasim Khakwani. MMA’s Khizar Hayat is a retired judge, while PPP’s Liaquat Dogar is the brother of incarcerated ex-MPA and Multan mayor Salahuddin Dogar.

The Khakwanis are not only dividing the PML vote but are also sharing their Pathan clan’s votes as well between themselves. This situation has brightened the chances for Liaquat Dogar. However, Khizer Hayat can prove a dark horse as there is a strong section of voters in the constituency who does not want the return of both Khakwani and Dogar.

PP-194 and 197 fall under NA-149. Nine candidates are in the field for PP-194, but the potential are Chaudhry Arif Mahmood Boota (PML-N), Shahid Mahmood Khan (PML-QA) and Moeenuddin Riaz Qureshi (PPP). Arif is the son of former MNA Haji Muhammad Boota and Moeen is the son of ex-MNA Riaz Husain Qureshi. The PML-Q candidate is a new entrant.

Of the 14 in run for PP-197, the formidable are Ashraf Saeed Qureshi (PML-QA), Dr Javed Saddiqi (PPP), Ehsanuddin Qureshi (PML-N) and Malik Naseem Laaber (NA). All the four have equal chances to win the polls.

NA-150 covers urban localities of Gulzeb Colony, Madina Colony, Shah Rukn-i-Alam Colony, Writers Colony, People’s Colony, Mumtazabad and Nazimabad. Of the 11 in the field, main contestants are Prof Yaqoob Rizvi (MMA), Rana Mahmoodul Hasan (PML-N), Syed Tanvirul Hasan Gilani (PML-QA), Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi (NMP), Abbas Ali Ansari (NA) and Malik Mukhtar Awan (PPP).

Tanvir Gilani, Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Mukhtar Awan are former federal ministers, while Abbas Ansari is ex-MPA. Mukhtar Awan has a golden chance to stage a comeback if he succeeds to poll the PPP vote against too many heavyweights in the contest. The PML-QA and the NA have failed to make an electoral adjustment here which is likely to prove fatal to Tanvir Gilani.

PP-195 and PP-196 fall in NA-150. Of 15 aspirants for PP-195, the match is among Khalil Javed Ansari (PML-QA), Mian Manzoor Qadir Ansari (PPP) and Nafees Ahmad Ansari (PML-N).

For PP-196, there are 12 contestants, including ex-MPA Khursheed Ahmad Khan (PPP), Mujahid Malik Bhutta (PML-N) and Mirza Furqan Ali Mughal (PML-QA). A close fight is likely between PPP and PML-N candidates.

NA-151 comprises the areas of Multan Cantonment, Muzaffarabad, Nawabpur, Qasim Baila, Bosan Sher Shah and Jhok Waince. This constituency is a blend of rural (75%) and urban (25%) areas. Seven aspirants are in the race but the main contest will be among Syed Ahmad Mujtaba Gilani (PPP), Sikandar Hayat Bosan (PML-QA) and Maulvi Sultan Alam Ansari (PML-N).

Ahmad Mujtaba, the brother of Yousaf Raza Gilani, has resigned from the Multan Saddar tehsil nazimship to regain the NA seat his elder brother lost to Sikandar Bosan in 1997. Sikandar Bosan was being considered as a winning horse before the entry of Maulvi Sultan Alam who is fetching votes from the urban area. Though for rural tracts, he will be a non-entity.

PP-198, 199 and 200 fall in NA-151. Of the 11 in run for PP-198, the potential are Ishaq Bucha (PPP), Allah Nawan Khan Durrani (PML-N), Makhdoomzada Haider Raza (PML-QA) and Yadullah Shaikh (NA).

For PP-199. Dr Khalid Khokhar (PML-N), Syed Nazim Husain Shah (PPP) and Syed Abbas Akbar (NA) are the prominent among the five aspirants. But a neck-and-neck contest is likely between former minister Nazim Shah and Abbas Akbar.

For PP-200, there are four aspirants including Ahmad Hasan Deharr (PPP), Sikandar Hayat Bosan (PML-QA) and Mahboob Alam (PML-N). Deharr is working hard to give a tough time to Sikandar Bosan.

NA-152 comprises the areas of Khokhar, Sikandarabad, Basti Malook, Larr, Qasba Marral, Khanpur Qazian and half of the Shujabad tehsil. Syed Asad Murtaza Gilani (PPP), Syed Javed Ali Shah (PML-N), Muhammad Iqbal Azhar (MMA) and Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan (PML-QA) are the contestants from here. Asad Murtaza is the nephew of imprisoned PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gilani, while Javed Shah is a veteran who returned to parliament through former NA-119 in all the last three general elections. Nawab Liaquat was elected MPA in 1990 and 1997 on PML-N ticket with the backing of Javed Ali Shah.

Some of the areas included in the constituency after the fresh delimitations like Daoti Malook, Larr and Qasba Marral are considered as a stronghold of Yousaf Raza Gilani, and for this very reason his nephew is very much in the run. A triangular contest among Shah, Gilani and Nawab is on the card in which the Q-League candidate is likely to be trailing as runner-up.

PP-203 and 204 fall in NA-152. Seven candidates are in the race for PP-203 and the potential are Javed Abdullah (PML-QA), Rana Ishtiaq (PML-N) and Mian Liaquat Husain Marral (PPP). A neck-and-neck fight is expected between Javed Abdullah and Liaquat Marral.

Five aspirants, including Rana Ijaz Noon (PML-QA), Rafique Ahmad (PML-N) and Kunwar Zahid Ahmad Khan (PPP), are in the field for PP-204. Rana Ijaz has resigned from the union council nazimship to contest the elections. His position is better than other contestants.

NA-153 comprises Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil and the remaining part of Shujabad tehsil. There are five contenders, including Barrister Syed Najaf Husain Shah (PPP), Diwan Syed Jaffar Bokhari (PML-N) and Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon (PML-QA).

Barrister Najaf is a newcomer, so he will find it difficult to contest against Diwans of Jalalpur Pirwala and Noons of Shujabad. A close contest is on the cards between Diwan and Noon.

PP-205 and PP-206 fall in NA-153. Seven candidates are in the run for PP-205. The main contest will be among Rana Qasim Noon (PML-QA), Malik Ghulam Abbas Khakhi (PPP) and Mehdi Abbas Khan (PML-N).

For PP-206, there are eight aspirants and the potential are Diwan Syed Husain Ahmad Bokhari (Ind), Syed Mujahid Ali Shah (PML-N), Faiz Rasool Khan (PML-QA) and Shaukat Hayat Ghallu (PPP). Mujahid Ali Shah is former Multan district council chairman and the younger brother of Javed Ali Shah. Opponents will have to face difficulties to defeat him.