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RAWALPINDI: Only faces change in Pindi’s electoral politics, but all problems remain the same. At least this is the sentiment among voters in the garrison city.
In 2008 and 2013, it was the PML-N that won the lion’s share of the three National Assembly seats in the district, before facing a massive setback in 2018, when the PTI and Sheikh Rashid emerged victorious in all NA constituencies in the garrison city.
In 2008, the major contest in Rawalpindi was between the PML-N and the PPP, with the former winning all three seats.
In NA-56 (Rawalpindi-VI) — a constituency from Marrir Chowk to Faizabad area on the left side of the Murree Road — PML-N stalwart Javed Hashmi defeated PPP’s Amir Fida Paracha and then-PML-Q leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
Mr Hashmi got 76,980 votes, Mr Paracha secured 37,397 votes and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed got only 15,780 votes. After Mr Hashmi vacated the seat, PML-N’s Shakeel Awan bagged the NA-56 seat with 63,888 votes. For the by-election, Sheikh Rashid established his ‘Awami Muslim League’ but he still lost the election. He had secured 44,000 votes at the time.
Three NA seats in garrison city are likely to witness ‘tough contests’ between PML-N and PTI candidates
In 2013, PTI founder Imran Khan helped Sheikh Rashid emerge victorious in the constituency with over 88,000 votes whereas PML-N leader Malik Shakeel could only secure a little over 75,000 votes. PPP’s Iftikhar Ahmad got merely 6,000 votes.
In 2018, Pindi belonged to the PTI. Sheikh Rashid got 117,719 votes while PML-N’s Daniyal Chaudhry received over 91,000 votes. PPP with its nominee Sumaira Gull remained at the bottom with only 5,583 votes. In the upcoming elections, the contest is again between the PTI and the PML-N, with the PPP barely visible in the electoral arena.
NA-57
In 2008, in this constituency, the main contest was held between PML-N and PPP and PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi won the seat. Hanif Abbasi got 73.433 votes and PPP leader Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan Advocate won 22,720 votes while PML-Q’s Sheikh Rashid Ahmed got 10,964 votes.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed contested two seats in 2008 unsuccessfully. But, in 2013, a key contest was held between PTI and PML-N.
PTI founder Imran Khan contested from the constituency and won the seat while defeating PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi. Imran Khan got 80,425 votes and Hanif Abbasi secured 67,167 votes while PPP’s Raja Israr Abbasi got only 4,089 votes.
In 2018, the constituency’s number changed from NA-56 to NA-60. But this time Imran Khan decided to support Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in this constituency. However, a few days before general elections, PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi was sentenced in the ephedrine case and the election in this constituency was postponed.
However, after winning the by-election, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed became the federal minister for railways in Imran Khan’s cabinet and decided to launch his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafique in the elections as a nominee of the PTI. Sheikh Rashid Shafique won the seat with 44,483 votes and PML-N’s Sajjad Khan got 43,836 votes while the PPP did not participate.
Now, the main contest will again be a PML-N and PTI rematch. The latter has decided to field its Punjab North Chapter President Seemabia Tahir in the constituency instead of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, who had no option but to withdraw his nomination papers.
However, his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafique will contest election on an Awami Muslim League ticket. Only two people, Sheikh Rashid and his nephew, have been granted tickets by the AML.
NA-55
In NA-55, which extends from Marrir Chowk to Golra Mor on both sides of Peshawar Road, the primary contest is expected between PTI and PML-N.
In 2008, PML-N’s Malik Abrar Ahmed won the seat while defeating PPP’s Zamrud Khan. Malik Abrar Ahmed got 58,228 votes, Zamrud Khan got 33,749 votes, and PML-Q’s Raja Basharat secured 10,400 votes. In 2013, Malik Abrar got 76,255 votes and PTI’s Hina Manzoor got 68,473 votes. PPP leader Zamrud Khan got 13,166 votes.
In 2018, Raja Amir Kiani — now an IPP candidate from Islamabad — defeated PML-N’s Abrar by securing 105,086 votes against his rival who received 60,135 votes. PPP leader Muhammad Gulzar got 2,653 votes.
For the Feb 8 elections, PTI has given the ticket to Raja Basharat for NA-55, Sheryar Riaz for NA-56, and Seemabia Tahir for NA-57. PML-N announced Malik Abrar Ahmed as candidate for NA-55, Hanif Abbasi for NA-56 and Daniyal Chaudhry for NA-57. PPP fielded Babar Sultan Jadoon for NA-55, Sumaira Gull for NA-56, and Mukhtar Abbas for NA-57.