KASUR: A sudden change in the PTI nominations in three constituencies of the provincial assembly for Kasur may pave the way for the PML-N win in the constituencies.

The PTI changed nominations in PP-180, PP-182 and PP-182. As a result, the party is likely to suffer a setback as its candidates had already started their limited campaign quite late due to the crackdowns of police and alleged harassment by the state authorities.

The sudden decision to change the tickets baffled both the voters as well as the party workers.

Local political analysts say that in the absence of the party symbol of bat, the voters will be confused regarding the actual ticket holder, representing their party. The analysts are afraid that the change in nominations would damage the party vote bank that was already spoiled and dispersed due to late campaign.

In PP-180, the party review committee took the ticket back from Dawood Aslam Dogar and gave it to the PML-Q-backed candidate Waqas Mokal. Mokal is contesting election on the symbol of Hookah. He will face the IPP candidate retired Col Hashim Dogar who had a seat adjustment with the PML-N’s Mazhar Rasheed and Ahsan Raza.

In PP- 82, the PTI awarded a ticket to Rana Aqeel Aslam after taking it from Rana Tariq on the request of NA candidate Azeemuddin Lakhvi. Aslam would contest against PML-N candidate former MPA Mahmood Anwar Chaudhry and the IPP candidate, former PTI MPA Pir Mukhtar Ahmed.

In PP-183, the PTI had awarded ticket to Tanvir Riaz but later gave it to Farooq Chhachhar. On Monday, the party again took a U-turn and awarded it to back to Tanvir.

He would face the PML-N candidate, former district council chairman Sikandar Hayat, and IPP candidate former MPA Asif Nakai.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI candidates are mostly the party workers who are facing traditional and heavyweight politicians. They, according to the local political analysts, need firm ground and support of the party leadership as well as workers and, above all, confidence of the voters to try their muscles against ‘electables’ of rival parties.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024