Tough contest between PML-N, PTI in Gulberg Town

LAHORE
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its political adversary Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are in tough competition for local government elections in Gulberg Town, where a total of 25 union councils are up for grabs this Saturday, 31 October.
The commercial epicenter of Gulberg III, Gurumangat Road Union Council-202 and PP-152 which hosts several factories and small business enterprises is a real asset for both of the rival parties. PML-N candidate for chairmanship in UC-202, a staunch party loyalist and businessman, who owns a concrete factory in the area, Arshad Ahmed Khan talking to The News expressed confidence in his winning chances stating that his family has a history contesting and winning local government elections.
Khan informed that his father and uncle had won in past elections and that he enjoys good familial ties with former National Assembly Speaker and NA-122 winner Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The PML-N die-hard supporter told The News that his campaign was focused on bringing development in his area and the PTI candidate Abdul Samad Ghani will fail to bring the votes as the party had done nothing for the community despite winning NA-126 in 2013 general elections.
His opponent in the slot for chairmanship, PTI’s Abdul Samad Ghani is a caterer by profession and was previously elected Nazim in 2001 local bodies’ elections as an independent. A central part of Ghani’s campaign is clean drinking water for the residents of Union Council-202 and an efficient sewerage system to avoid the dengue caused by still rain water. Talking to The News, the PTI candidate said local government elections focused less on the political affiliations of those in the running and more on the personalities of the individual candidates. He complained that PML-N had illegally deployed government machinery to harass him and his running mate.
A survey of the Union Council showed a majority of underdeveloped areas despite bustling commercial activity with dilapidated roads, pathetic drainage and sewerage systems, and poorly built houses in the residential area. Maqbool Bhatti, a clerk residing in the area talking to The News said that a majority of residents in his neighborhood in Ittehad Colony were voting for PTI candidates as development work had been lackluster in the community.
In the posh locality of Firdous Market in Gulberg which also includes a handful of katchi abadis, Union Council 204 in forthcoming local government elections, independent candidate Dr Zakaullah Ghumman is hopeful that he will win the chairman slot on Saturday. Ghumman told The News that residents are tired of the empty political rhetoric of both PML-N and PTI, thus would vote for him on the polling day. The middle-aged doctor noted that personal relations matter a great deal in local government elections, which unlike General Elections; focus entirely on issues of vital public interests. It is worth mentioning that Ghumman has a medical practice in Model Colony and was previously elected Nazim in 2005 from the area.
PTI candidate for chairmanship in UC-204 and owner of a small business in the area, Shafique Cheema talking to The News said electricity shortage, lack of schools for the burgeoning population, and poor healthcare were core issues but the Local Government Ordinance 2013 had made several changes which weakened the powers of the local bodies system. Cheema’s main priorities for UC-204 as chairman include allocation of public property for graveyards and accessible clean drinking water amongst other objectives for the area. Even as UC-204 falls under NA-126 constituency won by PTI MNA Shafqat Mehmood in 2013 general elections, this particular Union Council proved tough for Mehmood in the last election.
PML-N candidate Mian Muhammad Aslam, an Arian with strong connections in the Katchi abadis near Firdous Market, owns a catering business in the area and has thrice been elected councillor on a PML-N ticket. If elected into office, Aslam said in his tenure he would address the problems of gas and water shortage, and the poor sewerage system creating problems for residents.
In nearby Union Council 203, comprising of Forman Christian College Katchi Abadi area, Inayat Colony, St. Mary Colony, Khan Colony, and parts of Gulberg III, a fierce competition is expected between PTI and PML-N. Candidates for chairmanship in this Union Council as a part of their respective election campaigns have promised the occupants of katchi abadis ownership rights. The Union Council is located in the center of both NA-126 and PP-152 constituencies, where PTI won both the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats with Shafqat Mehmood and Dr Murad Rass.
The PML-N candidate for chairmanship in UC-203, Syed Zahid Ali Bukhari is hoping in the upcoming election that his campaign for ownership rights to Christian residents of FC College Christian Colony, Inayat Colony, and St Mary Colony, and Khan Colony will attract voters on polling day. Bukhari told The News that residents of these Katchi abadis wanted development work in their areas and voting for the ruling party was the right choice in lieu of this. Meanwhile, PTI candidate for chairman and his opponent, Abdul Wakeen Khan told The News that his campaign had assured issuance of Nadra CNIC cards to Pathans living in Khan Colony, of which he is also a resident. There is anti-government sentiment in UC-203, Khan told The News, adding that water filtration plants and clean drinking water were badly needed in this part of Lahore.