VEHARI: A former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Monday announced retiring from election contest in favour of party candidate for NA-164 (Vehari-111).

Aftab Khichi has announced his support to PTI candidate Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry. After this development, PTI is likely to have an edge over Tehmina Daultana of PML-N.

Aftab Khichi had made it to the National Assembly for the first time in 2002 on the PML-Q platform from this constituency. Later, he joined PTI and contested the election against Tahir Iqbal (independent) and Tehmina Daultana.

In the 2013 polls, Tahir Iqbal won the seat and Aftab Khichi, son of former district council chairman Mumtaz Khichi, stood third. In the upcoming election when the PTI leadership did not award ticket to Aftab Khichi, he announced contesting the election against PTI nominee ex-MNA Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry.

On July 11, Imran Khan during his visit to Burewala held a meeting with Mr Khichi. On Monday, Khichi announced withdrawal of his candidature in favour of PTI nominee for NA-164 and told Dawn the party chairman assured him that he would be accommodated in future.

Khichi quoted Imran Khan as saying that the PTI awarded ticket to Tahir Iqbal because of agreement with ‘South Punjab Soba Mahaz’.

He said he was campaigning for all PTI candidates in Vehari district especially NA-164.

A total of 14 candidates are in the run in constituency. PML-N’s Tehmina Daultana, PTI’s Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry, ex-provincial minister Naeem Bhaba and Rana Sagheer Guddu (independents) are the main contestants. Total number of votes are 408,197.

In the 2013 election, Tahir Iqbal (independent) got 89,555 votes, Tehmina Daultana of PML-N bagged 72,853 ballots and Aftab Khichi of PTI polled 27,160 votes.

Reports says rift in PML-N ranks can benefit the PTI candidate. PP-233 (V-5) and PP-234 (V-6) fall under NA-164. In PP-233, out of total 15 candidates, the main contest is expected between PML-N’s Rao Shabbir Biloo, PTI`s Rai Zahoor Kharal and independent (former Punjab assembly speaker) Saeed Ahmed Manais.

In PP-234 (V-6), the main fight is between ex-MPA Mian Saqib Khursheed of PML-N and Zahid Iqbal Chaudhry of PTI. Zahid Iqbal is younger brother of PTI candidate Tahir Iqbal (NA-164). Zahid is contesting election for the first time.

Mian Saqib had also won the elections from this constituency in 1993, 1996 and 2013. Naeem Bhabha and Saeed Manais are supporting Rana Fakhar Islam (independent). Bhabha and Manais are active in the constituency only due to alleged ‘personnel grievances’ with Tehmina Daultana. Ms Daultana supported Mian Saqib Khursheed for getting the ticket of PML-N from PP-234, as Naeem Bhaba was also interested in contesting from the same constituency.

Political observers claim that the Arain biradari is likely to play a vital role in the election result. They say PTI’s Tahir Iqbal from NA-164 and Mian Saqib Khusheed (PP-234) have an edge over other candidates as both belong to the Arain clan.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2018