GUJRAT, Sept 23: The two PML-QA candidates for NA-108 and NA-109 in the Mandi Bahauddin district are facing tough time against the strong candidates of the PPP and PML-N.

The lack of coordination among five PML-QA’s provincial assembly candidates, absence of traditional political workers and wrong distribution of party tickets are the reasons of their weak position.

The NA-108 comprises areas of Mandi Bahauddin, Phalia and some parts of Kuthiala Sheikhan. The Gujjars, the Gondals, the Warraichs and the Mohajirs are some major biradaris.

Zafarullah Tarar (PPP), the son of ex-MNA Ghulam Rasool Tarar, won this seat by defeating Mumtaz Ahmad Tarar (PML-N) in 1988 and 1993. Mumtaz Tarar defeated his arch rival Zafarullah Tarar in 1990 and 1997 elections.

The PML-QA has awarded its ticket to Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad while the MMA has allotted its ticket to union council Nazim Syed Mehfooz Mushahidi of Bhikhi Sharif.

The PML-N candidate and former MNA, Mumtaz Ahmad Tarar, withdrew his nomination papers in favour of MMA’s candidate.

Two provincial assembly seats PP-116 and PP-117 and half part of another PA seat PP-120 fall in NA-108. The PML-QA has fielded Hameeda Waheeduddin, the daughter of ex-MPA Mian Waheeduddin for PP-116, PML-QA district president and former Mandi Bahauddin chairman Chaudhry Riaz Asghar for PP-117 and Arif Gondal, son of ex-MPA Ahmad Yar Gondal for PP-120.

There seems no coordination among PML-QA candidates of the provincial assembly as they are not convincing their voters to give votes to their candidate on the national assembly seat.

The wrong distribution of a ticket in PP-117, Phalia, has caused a split in the party. The Phalia tehsil Nazim, Shakil Gulzar, a business partner and a close relative of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, wanted to get the ticket for his brother Waseem Gulzar. But the ticket was allotted to a weak candidate, Riaz Asghar, who is brother-in-law of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

A large number of Nazimeen, Naibs, councillors and other PML-QA workers took out a protest rally against its leaders on Sept 15 when Waseem Gulzar withdrew his papers.

This has also weakened the position of PML-QA candidate Ejaz Ahmad in NA-108. Political circles opine that the real contest for NA-108 will be witnessed between PPP’s Zafarullah Tarar and the PML-N backed MMA candidate, Mehfooz Mushahidi.

The NA-109 consists of Malakwal, Qadirabad, Barmusa, Miana, Gondal areas and some parts of Kuthiala Sheikhan. Two provincial assembly seats — PP-118 and PP-119 and some parts of PP-120 also fall in this constituency.

The Gondals will play a vital role in determining the results in NA-109, PP-118 and PP-119 while the Poris is also an important biradari.

Mohammad Nawaz Bosal of the Gondal family won the elections in 1985 and 1988 on the PPP platform for NA-109 seat. Umer Hayat Laleka, also of the Gondal family, won the 1990 elections on the IJI ticket. In the 1993 elections, district Nazim Nazar Muhammad Gondal won this seat on the PPP ticket.

Similarly, PP-119 always remained in the possession of the Gondals. Former MPA Haji Afzal Chan, whose son Nadeem Afzal is Malakwal tehsil Nazim, clinched this seat in 1985, 1988 and 1990 elections on the PML platform. While in 1993, Haji Chan won this seat on the PPP ticket. A major setback occurred in this constituency in the 1997 elections when a newcomer, Sultan Gondal of the PML-N, defeated Mr Chan.

The PML-N has pitched a newcomer, Munawar Iqbal Gondal advocate, for NA-109. The PPP has awarded its ticket to Maj Zulfikar Ali (retired), the brother of ex-MNA and district Nazim Nazar Muhammad Gondal. The PML-QA has allotted its ticket to Nasir Iqbal Bosal who is the son of ex-MNA Iqbal Bosal, the nephew of ex-MNA Nawaz Bosal and the grandson of former MLA Nanak Bosal.

A tough fight is expected between PML-QA’s Nasir Iqbal Bosal and PPP’s Zulfiqar Ali. However, the position of Nasir Bosal is some what weak as there is no coordination among PML-QA candidates in PP-118, PP-119 and PP-120. All the candidates are running their own election campaign and are not canvassing for the national assembly seat.