If it's Jhang, we're talkin' high explosives...
Tough competition is expected in the May 12 by-election in NA-89, the National Assembly constituency in Jhang, that fell vacant with the murder of Maulana Azam Tariq in October last year. Maulana Tariqâs brother Alam Tariq, Jhang city nazimâs son Sheikh Waqas Akram and a candidate to be decided by the outlawed Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan (MIP) are the strong candidates from NA-89. A split in the MIP has made the situation more complex in the constituency where former federal minister Abida Hussain is supporting Muttahida Majlis-e-Amalâs candidate Dr Abul Hassan and her daughter and Punjab Minister for Social Welfare Sughra Imam is putting her weight behind Pakistan Muslim League-Quid-e-Azam (PML-QA) candidate Sheikh Yaqoob.
| Dunno what their chances are. How many gunnies do they have available? |
MIP spokesman Mujibur Rehman Inqalabi said that Ms Hussainâs traditional rival and Federal Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat might support the MIP nominee to defeat Dr Hassan. He said the interior ministerâs brother Asad Hayat might withdraw his nomination papers to ensure that the candidate supported by Ms Hussain wins. Hassan Mohiuddin, son of Tahirul Qadri, is also contesting from this constituency. Sources said Abida Hussain was engineering a patch-up between MMA and PAT candidates. âA patch-up is certain to ensure more votes for the candidate supported by Ms Hussain but Sheikh Waqas Akram is the candidate to beat in this constituency,â sources said. Sources said a strong vote bank for his family meant that Mr Akram did not need any political partyâs support to in the elections but he was contesting on a Millat Party ticket.
| Just a little reminder that Pakistan's patron-client system still applies... |
Mr Pehalwan, who has been the chairman of Jhang Municipal Committee for eight years and spent as many years behind bars on charges of sectarian terrorism, wants his sacrifice for Haq Nawaz Jhangviâs mission rewarded, sources said. âMr Pehalwan is probably the frontrunner for the MIP ticket in which case Mr Hakim can contest as an independent candidate,â sources said. They said a split in votes is certain to end in the MIP candidateâs election unless the party settles its differences with Alam Tariq. Chief of the International Khatam-e-Nabwat Maulana Manzoor Chanyoti and JUI-S are supporting Alam Tariq, which can split the Deobandi vote further. |