Tough contests expected in Lodhran: PML-N’s Baloch may prove a hard nut to crack for Tareen
LAHORE: As the general elections are approaching fast, political and social experts are predicting intense contests in Lodhran district, where Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) chief is also contesting for a National Assembly seat — NA-155.
The district, with a population of 1.9 million, is divided into three tehsils: Kahror Pakka, Dunyapur, and Lodhran. It has two National Assembly seats (NA-154 and NA-155) and four provincial assembly seats (PP-225, 226, 227, and PP-228).
The district’s political landscape is largely rural and influenced by biradari/caste-based affiliations. Major political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), have fielded candidates for both national assembly seats. The Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) of Jahangir Khan Tareen, is also contesting on one of the NA seats.
In the NA-154 constituency, which includes Kahror Pakka and Dunyapur city, the main contenders include the PML-N’s Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, PTI-backed Rana Faraz Ahmad Noon, an independent Akhtar Khan Kanju, and PPP’s Imdad Ullah Abbasi.
For the PP-225 seat, which comprises Dunyapur tehsil, the candidates include Zawar Warriach of the PML-N, independent Jahangir Bhutta, and PTI-backed Shazia Hayatullah Tareen.
In PP-226, having major areas of Kahror Pakka tesil, candidates include Shah Muhammad Joyia of the PML-N, PTI-backed Nawab Raziullah Khan and Mahmood Nawaz Joiya, an independent.
For NA-155, IPP’s Jahangir Khan Tareen is contesting against PML-N’s Siddique Khan Baloch, PTI-backed Advocate Iffat Tahira, and PPP’s Rana Azhar Uthera. This constituency includes the Lodhran district headquarters and rural areas.
Political pundits are expecting a tough competition between IPP’s Tareen and PML-N’s Baloch in this constituency.
For the PP-227 seat, which covers Lodhran city, the candidates include IPP’s Maher Ashraf Siyal, PPP’s Sajjad Rehan, PML-N’s Zubair Khan Baloch, and PTI-backed Nawab Amanullah Khan.
In PP-228, comprising Lodhran’s rural areas, has IPP’s Nazeer Khan Baloch, PML-N’s Syed Rafiuddin Shah Bukhari, and PTI-backed Capt Izzat Javed are candidates.
Local political observers say that tough contests are expected for Lodhran’s both NA seats, with PML-N candidates appearing stronger as compared to other parties’ candidates. He says that Mr Kanju is leading in NA-154, while PTI-backed Mr Noon also appears to be a strong contestant, having won the support of IPP patron-in-chief Mr Tareen.
According to them, in NA-155, Mr Baloch had defeated IPP chief Mr Tareen in 2013 and his son in a 2017 by-election, but Mr Tareen has re-entered the arena with a new party this time, which may affect the voting trend.
They suggest that Mr Baloch’s continuous presence in the constituency and his caste-based votes may benefit him, while Mr Tareen’s absence could affect his vote bank in the area.
In the provincial assembly constituencies, they predict a tough competition between PML-N’s Mr Warraich and PTI-backed Shazia Hayat Tareen in PP-225.
An observer Adnan Joya says that IPP chief Mr Tareen is supporting the PTI-backed Nawab Raziullah against Shah Muhammad Joiya of the PML-N in PP-226.
According to Joya, PML-N’s Zubair Khan Baloch, son of Siddique Khan Baloch, appears to be a stronger candidate than both IPP and PTI-backed candidates in PP-227.
He says that the PML-N’s Syed Rafeeuddin Bukhari, a three-time MPA, was contesting against PTI-backed Izzat Javed Khan and IPP’s Nazeer Khan Baloch in PP-228.
He believes that the PMLN and PTI-backed candidates were stronger than those of the IPP.
Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024
Header image: This photo combo shows PML-N’s Siddique Khan Baloch (L) and IPP’s Jahangir Khan Tareen (R). — File photos
To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.