KASUR: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has yet to start electioneering in any constituency of the district because of the uncertainty prevailing among the aspirants for party tickets.

On the other hand, PML-N, Muttahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and PPP candidates have started their poll campaigns for there is no ambiguity among their circles about candidates.

Kasur has four National Assembly (NA) and nine Punjab Province (PP) constituencies. For NA constituencies, the PTI has seven aspirants, and of them, one is old worker while the other six have been part of more than one political parties in the past.

Similarly, the PTI has 22 aspirants for nine tickets of PP constituencies. Of those 22, six have been part of the PTI since its inception, while 16 others have been part of the PML-N, the PML-Q and the PPP.

In NA-137, Rao Dawar Hayat, son of former MNA Rao Mazhar Hayat of the PML-N, and Sardar Rashid Tufail, son of former MNA Sardar Muhammad Tufail, are aspirants for the PTI ticket. According to political analysts, Mr Tufail has maximum chances to get the ticket.

In NA-138, former foreign minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali and former Kasur bar president Mehar Muhammad Saleem have applied for the PTI ticket. Mr Ali is being regarded the likely candidate for the PTI.

In NA-139, the PTI has to choose one from Dr Azeem Lakhvi and Asif Nakai. Mr Lakhvi has been part of the PML-N and the PML-Q while Mr Nakai has also been faithful to the PML-Q. Mr Lakhvi claims he is the strongest contender for the ticket.

In NA-140, Sardar Talib Nakai is the only choice for the PTI. He has been in the PML-Q camp for years and was elected the MPA in the 2008 general elections.

The PTI has five applicants for the PP-174 ticket. They are Robina Ansari, Ashfaq Kambo, Attaur Rehman, Mubashar Nawaz and Mehar Muhammad Saleem. Of them, Ms Ansari is the former leader of the PML-Q, Mr Kambo the PPP and PML-N and Mr Nawaz the PML-N, while Mr Rehman is a first timer in electoral politics wheres as Mr Saleem is the old worker of the PTI. Political analysts say that Mr Saleem could win the ticket.

In PP-175, the PTI has to pick from Hassan Ali Khan, Ms Masood Bhatti and Sardar Fakhar. Mr Khan has been in the PML-N while Ms Bhatti and Mr Fakhar are new entrants. According to political circles, Ms Bhatti may get the ticket.

Sardar Muhammad Hussain Dogar and Barrister Shahid Masood are the applicants for the PP-176 seat. Mr Dogar is the former PPP district president whereas Mr Masood has recently started his career from the PTI. In the eyes of political analysts, Mr Dogar may win the ticket.

Retired Col Hashim Ali Dogar, Waqas Hassan Mokal and Shabir Husain are the aspirants for PP-177. The PML-Q supported Mr Husain in the 2008 election while Mr Mokal is the son of former deputy speaker Hassan Akhtar Mokal. Mokals have been associated with the PML-N and PML-Q. The family of Mr Dogar has also been with the PML-Q before joining the PTI. At the moment, Mr Mokal has bright chances for the ticket.

Among the applicants for PP-178, Rao Shahid Qayyum has been with the PML-Q and the PPP in past years, while Rana Aqeel Aslam was once in the PML-Q and the PML-N. Rana Abad has been associated with the PML-Q.

In PP-179, Rana Tariq will compete against Pir Mukhtar Ahmed, who ditched the PML-Q for the PTI. The Pir is being considered the favorite for the PTI ticket.

In PP-180, Sardar Asif Nakai is the sole choice for the PTI. He joined the PTI after leaving the PML-Q.

Similarly, Rana Muhammad Aslam is the strong competitor for the PP-181 ticket.

In PP-182, Amjad Ali, former activist of the PML-Q and the PML-N, will be competing with Ms Masood Bhatti. Mr Ali is likely to be the PTI candidate.A PTI office-bearer, requesting anonymity, said the PTI might delay the announcement of tickets as some strong politicians from Kasur would ditch the PML-N after May 31 and join the PTI.

In the 2013 general elections, the PML-N won all the five NA and eight out of 10 PP seats from the district.

According to political pundits, the main contest in Kasur is likely to be between the PTI and the PML-N.

PML-N’s incumbent MNAs have strong personal votes in their constituencies and their joining to the PTI is likely to strengthen chances for the PTI win.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2018