RAWALPINDI: Like the 2013 elections, the main contest in NA-61, the cantonment areas of the garrison city, will be between PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) during the upcoming elections as well.

A PML-N stronghold traditionally, some factors now make the contest neck and neck.

The PML-N is benefitted from the fact that there is no well known PTI candidate in the area and the massive development work conducted by the previous PML-N led provincial and central governments.

PTI faces disadvantage of weak candidates while PML-N has to struggle against failure to address problems such as water crisis

PTI has strong candidates for the provincial assembly, though they came over from other parties such as PML-Q. It benefits from some resentment in the area against PML-N who did not solve water and other issues during its tenure.

PML-N candidate former MNA Malik Abrar is facing PTI’s Amir Kiani, who is a friend of Imran Khan’s but is relatively unknown to locals and is also new in election politics. PPP has also not fielded a strong candidate and has instead given a chance to Gulzar Awan as it had no other choice in the area.

Previously NA-54, NA-61 consists of Peshawar Road from Golra Mor to Tench Bhatta, including the area around the Army Headquarters, Lalazar, Westridge, Misrial Road and adjoining areas.

The constituency has 367,782 registered voters including 193,240 men and 174,542 women and 299 polling stations have been established in the area. In 2013, there were 300, 932 registered voters. A total of 28 candidates from various parties are contesting the elections in this constituency.

Zamarud Khan had defeated PML-N’s Raja Mohammad Zafarul Haq in the 2002 elections with a margin of 2,600 votes and by securing 31,491 votes.

In 2008, Zamarud Khan lost the seat to Malik Abrar of PML-N who managed to get 58,228 votes compared to Mr Khan’s 33,749 and PML-Q’s Raja Basharat secured 10,400 votes.

1n 2013, Malik Ibrar won again after a close contest with PTI’s Hina Manzoor. Malik Abrar got 76,255 votes and Hina Manzoor got 68,873 while Zamarud Khan got 13,161 votes.

Last time, the religious factor was not high in the area but the Muttahida Majlis-i Amal and Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan have also now fielded their candidates.

Former RCB vice president, PML-N’s Raja Jehandad Khan, is contesting in NA-61 independently to give Malik Abrar a tough time as he claims that he lost his seat due to his actions.

PTI also has a divided house in the Cantt areas as its former candidate, Hina Manzoor, is contesting independently after leaving the party and its main leader from the Cantt areas, Zahid Kazmi, has gone abroad in protest against the party’s decision to field Amir Kiani in the election.

The distribution of party tickets in the provincial assembly has also not gone down well with workers.

“Former PML-N MPA Shehryar Riaz was told he will be given the ticket for PP-15 but the ticket was then given to Umer Tanveer who is also new,” a senior party leader told Dawn.

He said the PTI will have an easy election due to the presence of Raja Basharat, who served as law minister in Pervaiz Elahi’s cabinet in Punjab, as he will be able to get local support.

“The Hina Manzoor factor will not have much effect,” he said, adding that Amir Kiani will face problems as he is a weak candidate for two reasons: he is an alien to the area and is contesting the elections for the first time.

Other political analysts said it will be a close contest between PML-N and PTI even if sympathy for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz is factored in.

PML-N candidates, on the other hand, are hoping their performance of the past 10 years will help them win.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018