KASUR: After PTI-backed heavyweight candidate Rashif Tufail was ‘forced’ to withdraw his nomination paper for NA-132, Kasur II, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif eyes an easy victory from the constituency on Feb 8.

The PTI has fielded former MPA Sardar Muhammad Hussain Dogar in NA-132, a newcomer to the constituency. Mr Dogar, who won MPA seats in 1988 and 1993 under the PPP, later joined the PTI in 2013. He has previously contested elections in NA-139, NA-131, PP-177, and PP-179 but without success.

Former MNA Malik Rasheed Ahmed, who left the NA constituency for Mr Sharif, is contesting the election for PP-175, the provincial constituency within NA-132.

Former PTI ticket-holders for PP-175, Rao Mazhar Hayat and Rao Dawar Hayat, recently joined the PML-N.

PPP’s candidate Shaheen Safdar is a first-timer in the election.

Mr Tufail, former PTI ticket holder for this constituency, is now contesting for PP-175 against Mr Ahmed. This shift occurred after Mr Tufail and his relatives faced several police raids, and his daughter and wife are wanted by the police in connection with the May 9 riots.

As per Mr Tufail’s social media posts, he was under great mental pressure (to leave the party) but vowed to stand by the PTI at every cost.

It is learned that Mr Tufail agreed to withdraw his candidature for NA-132 after his meeting (with PML-N elders) at Jati Umra. In return, he demanded a PML-N ticket for PP-175, but the request was turned down. Mr Tufail, however, denied the rumours and said he would face PML-N’s candidate in PP-175.

Mr Tufail is the son of Sardar Muhammad Tufail, who was in the Punjab Assembly from 1985 to 1999 under the PML-N. Later, he joined the PML-Q and was elected MNA in the 2002 general elections. PML-N’s Rao Mazhar Hayat in 2008 and Salman Hanif in 2013 defeated him. He joined the PTI in 2011.

According to political analysts, there could have been a tough fight in NA-132 between the PML-N and the PTI if Mr Tufail is the PTI candidate. They say Mr Tufail would have been a formidable candidate against PML-N’s Sharif. It has yet to be seen how Mr Dogar would put up a fight. He has not started his campaign in the constituency.

Mr Sharif is relying on the Malik family for his success.

The interesting aspect is now a fight in PP-175 where Mr Tufail and Mr Ahmed are the main contestants. Mr Tufail is relying on his old connections with influential figures in the area, the Mayo clan, and the PTI wave. In the nearby constituency of PP-178, PML-N’s Malik Ahmed Saeed is likely to have a tough time against PTI’s Barrister Shahid Masood.

The three provincial constituencies have be

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2024

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