LAHORE: The PML-N very wisely poised itself on a win-win situation in most of the constituencies where independent candidates won against its own candidates in the recent general elections. Results on most of the seats in Punjab show that the PML-N ensured a win-win situation for itself where even after the defeat of its candidate, the party has a complete chance of acquiring the support of the winner who won in independent capacity and the plan worked well. In nearly 20 seats of Punjab, the clash was witnessed between a PML-N ticket-holder and PML-N likeminded, including those who remained a part of PML-Q in Musharraf era but were no more interested to contest on the PML-Q or even PPP ticket and preferred to contest independently. Starting from NA-73, Bhakker, and the PML-N pitched its former MNA against one of its former MPAs from the seat. Abdul Majeed Khanankhel, the 2008 independent winner from the seat, who joined the PML-N shortly after those elections once again, emerged victorious on PML-N ticket this time against Sanaullah Mastikhel, the former PML-Q MNA of 2002 and independent MPA from this area in 2008, who joined the PML-N. From this seat, the clash was among two persons from same political party but one got the ticket and other contested independently. In this contest, PML-N’s Abdul Majeed stood first with 97,676 votes and Sanaullah Mastikhel remained runner up with nearly 91,000 votes. Even in case of the defeat of the PML-N ticket-holder, it was expected to get support of the independent winner who remained a PML-N loyalist during last five years. From NA-90, Sahibzada Nazir Sultan, also a former MNA, emerged victorious as independent candidate and inclined towards the PML-N whose own candidate, Saima Akhter Bharwana, has lost the polls. Saima won in 2002 and 2008 elections independently and in the late 2012, she joined the PML-N but lost the election. However, there was no loss for the PML-N despite losing this seat as it had acquired the support of Nazir Sultan who was also expected to adopt the same course even before elections. From NA-90, Najaf Abbas Sial, the PML-Q MPA of 2002 and 2008, who was the first member to revolt against the Chaudhrys after 2008 polls, emerged victorious against former MNA Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan of the PML-N. Sial also had flirtation with the PPP during the Governor’s Rule but in 2013 came up as independent candidate. He is, once again, back in the PML-N fold now after meeting the senior leadership of the party. From NA-108, Mandi Bahaud Din, Ejaz Chaudhry, the former PML-Q MNA of 2002 and the independent runner-up of 2008 elections, won against the PML-N’s Mumtaz Tarar. Chaudhry, contesting as an independent candidate, got 84,008 votes whereas closest to him was Tarar with 73,679 votes. From NA-154, Lodhran, Siddique Khan Baloch emerged victorious against the PTI’s Jehangir Khan Tareen and PML-N’s Rafiuddin Bokhari. Though, the actual contest was between Siddique Baloch, the former PML-Q MNA of 2008 from this seat, and Jehangir Khan Tareen of the PTI. The PML-N had pitched a former PML-Q MPA of 2002 and 2008 from the area, Pir Rafiuddin Bokhari who remained part of the PML-Q forward bloc and sat as PML-N MPA in the House. It was again a win-win situation for the PML-N even either of the candidates including Siddique Baloch or Rafiuddin had emerged victorious against, Tareen. Now, Siddique Baloch, along with his entire group is in the PML-N. From NA-155, the PML-N acquired the support of Abdul Rehman Kanju, former district Nazim of Lodhran, who contested against former MNA of PML-N, Akhter Kanju, as an independent candidate. Akhter Kanju, the PML-Q MNA of 2002, was winner of the by-election against the PPP’s Hayatullah Tareen in 2010 when Kanju was pitched by PML-N. In 2013 elections, he was pitched on PML-N ticket, once again, and had a contest with Abdul Rehman Kanju, son of a former PML-N loyalist, ex MNA Siddique Khan Kanju. Abdul Rehman Kanju, who was contesting as independent, on the panel of ‘Shaheed Kanju’ group emerged victorious against Akhter Kanju of the PML-N. The winner who was also inclined towards the PML-N even before the elections joined the party and there was not any defeat for N from this seat as well Another interesting contest was witnessed in NA-156, Khanewal, from where the PML-N lost but did not face any loss after acquiring the support of the winner who won independently. From this seat, the PML-N came up with Syed Fakhr Imam a winner of 1985, 1990 and 1997 elections. He witnessed defeat in 2002 election from this seat at the hands of PPP’s Raza Hayat Hiraj who later became part of PPP-Patriot group and eventually became a Q-Leaguer. Fakhr Imam, who remained part of PML-N till 1999, joined the PML-Q and later before the 2008 polls, he joined the PPP. In 2008 polls, both these persons contested against each other in which the PML-Q’s Raza Hayat Hiraj emerged victorious again. In 2013, Raza Hayat Hiraj didn’t contest on the ticket of PML-Q and fielded himself whereas Fakhr Imam was back in PML-N, once again. On May 11, the PML-N candidate lost this seat and Raza Hiraj won as independent candidate, but interestingly, like many other seats, it was not a loss for the PML-N as the winner eventually showed inclination towards the party. He is likely to take oath as a PML-N MNA in the National Assembly. From NA-169, Vehari, one of the staunch PML-N loyalists Tehmina Daultana suffered defeat from her home seat at the hands of an independent candidate, and former PML-N MPA of 2002, Tahir Chaudhry. Tahir Chaudhry was winner on PML-N ticket on a provincial seat in the 2002 elections and later joined PML-Q. In 2008 elections, he won on PML-Q ticket and remained in and out of the unification bloc. Nevertheless, he pitched himself as independent candidate and defeated a seasoned politician. Once again, the PML-N remained lucky to have Tahir Chaudhry back in its fold and he had also announced joining the party. Ms Daultana is also likely to take oath as MNA on the seats reserved for women. Much to the surprise of many in the PML-N, including the Khosas of Dera Ghazi Khan, the party has also accepted Awais and Jamal Leghari, who contested from NA-172 and NA-173, respectively. Legharis, one of the major groups of Dera Ghazi Khan who had a visible inclination towards the PTI in post-October 30, 2011 scenario are no more interested in the party after they have been accepted by the PML-N, despite having a long history of bitterness between two sides. Sardar Jamal Leghari, elder son of Sardar Farooq Leghari, contested as independent candidate from NA-172 and lost to PML-N’s Hafiz Abdul Karim. His brother, Awais, however, won from NA-173 and the group is in the PML-N now. Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa was the only known member of his clan who won from his group and he would retain his Senate seat and vacate the provincial one. The victory of PML-N candidates, including a Leghari from NA-174 and NA-175, has also come as a surprise for many as the losers include two seasoned politicians of the district Rajanpur, Sardar Nasarullah Dareshak and Mir Dost Mohammed Mazari. Sardar Jaffer Leghari emerged victorious over Nasarullah Dareshak. The fate of Jamshed Dasti, who won from two seats, including NA-177 and NA-178, Muzaffargarh, is yet to be decided as he hasn’t received a very welcome response from the PML-N due to reservations of local organizations.
