FAISALABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate for NA-109, Mian Abdul Mannan, lost his temper and used objectionable language when some of the voters raised issue of their demand of a new graveyard in the constituency.

According to witnesses, at a corner meeting, a voter asked Mr Mannan what he had done for getting approved of land for a new graveyard in the constituency. The PML-N candidate claimed nobody informed him about the issue.

Another voter at the meeting said the residents of the area were facing problems in burying the dead as locals in Manawala were not allowing them burials in the old graveyard.

After a few more questions on the issue, Mr Mannan lost his temper and used objectionable language.

He categorically told the voters that it was up to them whether they wanted to vote for him or not. He, however, said he would try to get them a new graveyard soon.

The constituency is dominated by Arain, Rajpoot, Dogar, Kamoka and Malik clans, while there were also a good number of Christian voters in the area.

According to locals, some union council chairmen were also not happy with Mr Mannan and they had even organised public gatherings to muster support of voters for launching a campaign against the PML-N candidate. They alleged that Mr Mannan had always ditched the die hard party workers when they needed his support.

Meanwhile, because of his differences with Mian Mannan, former PML-N MPA Sheikh Ijaz, who is contesting from PP-114 on the party ticket, was running his campaign separately. Sheikh is facing PTI’s Latif Nazar Gujjar.

Local analysts say the differences between the two PML-N candidates could hit the party in NA-109 benefit Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Faizullah Kamoka.

Mr Mannan had won the last general elections from NA-83 (now NA-109) by securing 47,107 votes against Mr Kamoka who got 36,866 votes. Mumtaz Ali Cheema of the Pakistan Peoples Party had secured 9,942 votes.

This time, the PPP has fielded Sheikh Mohammad Afzal as Cheema (a former city nazim and brother of ex-textile minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema) had joined the PTI a couple of years ago.

A supporter of Mr Mannan alleged that a “conspiracy was being hatched against Mr Mannan because of his obvious victory in the coming elections”. He said Mr Mannan had rendered “unprecedented services” for the people of the constituency.

He said Mr Mannan’s rivals had tried to pressurise the party leadership into denying him the ticket but he was nominated because of his work in the constituency and loyalty.

A tough competition is also expected in PP-115, where PML-N’s Ali Abbas will face former MPA Dr Asad Moazam of the PTI and Najaf Zia of the PPP.

Dr Moazzam has a strong vote bank in the constituency as compared to Mr Abbas who is fresh in politics. Mr Abbas enjoys support of Mr Mannan but faces opposition by some UC chairmen.

Ex-MPA Faqir Hussain Dogar of the PML-N and Mehboob Alam of the PTI will contest for PP-116.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2018