hile all eyes are currently on the forthcoming general elections and the focus is on the likely composition of the parliament and the provincial assemblies, there is more to the political scene than the win-lose binary. A nuanced analysis will show that there exists a cadre of seasoned politicians in all major parties whose member are above the electoral result so to say. While these people are strong candidates and expected to prevail in their constituencies, a potential loss will not end their careers or result in their being discarded from the top party ranks. Even when such candidates lose in a general election, they are either brought to the parliamentary forums via by-elections or assigned important jobs in non-representative offices. What follows here is a sample from the category from some of the mainstream parties.

Qamar Zaman Kaira

A scion of the Kaira family, entrenched in Pakistan Peoples Party since the 1970s, Qamar Zaman boasts a rich political lineage. His father, Chaudhry Muhammad Zaman Kaira, was elected an MPA in 1977. His uncle Haji Asghar Kaira was elected to the National Assembly in 1988 and 1993. With their sustained popularity, the Kairas have posed a formidable challenge to the Chaudhrys of Gujrat in Lala Musa, Kharian and Gujrat.

Kaira rose to prominence in 2002 when he won a Gujarat constituency. His public speaking skills make him a favourite with the crowds. He is also an able representative for the party in televised debates and talk shows.

In 2007, when Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan, Qamar Zaman’s cousin, Tauqeer Kaira, tragically lost his life during an attack on her convoy. Following his election to the National Assembly in 2008, President Asif Ali Zardari appointed him as federal minister for Kashmir affairs and later as federal information minister. When Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was declared ineligible for public office for contempt of court, Kaira was among the party leader considered for the leadership role. He is also very popular among the grassroots workers and has been the party’s face in the Punjab.

In the 2013 election, Qamar Zaman Kaira lost to Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He was then given a key role to reorganise and strengthen the party in the Punjab and was made the president of Central Punjab chapter.

In 2018, Kaira again failed to clinch his seat from Lala Musa. However, when the party became a coalition partner in the federal government following a vote of no confidence against former premier Imran Khan, he served as an advisor to prime minister on Kashmir Affairs from April 18, 2022, to August 10, 2023. During this period, he was the only PPP leader among the prime minister’s advisors.

Nadeem Afzal Chan

Chan’s family, the Gondals, have stood by the PPP since the days of party founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In the 2008 elections, four of them won seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies. Nadeem and his uncles Nazar Gondal and Zulfiqar Gondal became MNA and his younger brother, Waseem Afzal Chan an MPA. Initially a backbencher, Chan soon claimed limelight for his staunch defence of the party policies on TV shows. In this respect, he was also noted for hi candour, occasionally criticising fellow party leaders for their less than best behaviour.

In 2014, the party nominated him for a Senate seat from the Punjab. Recognised for his candid communication style, impeccable credentials and humble demeanor, Nadeem garnered respect not only within the PPP ranks but also some PML-N members who supported him in the election.

Since 2015, Chan has been assigned a room in Bilawal House, Lahore. Regarded close to both Bilawal and Asif Zardari, he enjoys substantial support among PPP supporters at the grassroots level.

In April 2018, Chan resigned from the PPP to join the PTI and contested the 2018 general election on a PTI ticket. On January 15, 2019, then prime minister Imran Khan appointed Chan as his spokesperson in an honorary capacity. Simultaneously, he was also designated a special assistant to the prime minister on parliamentary coordination, also in an honorary capacity.

In January 2021, he stepped down as spokesperson to the prime minister as well as SAPM. In March 2022, Chan rejoined the PPP after a meeting with the party’s chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He said his decision to join the PTI had been a mistake.

Following his election in the 2008 general election from Sargodha, he had also served as chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (from April 2012 to March 2013).

In the 2013 general election, he had again stood for the Sargodha constituency but lost to Muhammad Amin-ul Hasnat Shah. This time he is contesting Provincial as well as and National Assembly seats.

Firdous Ashiq Awan

Dr Awan is currently the central information secretary of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party. She is one of the key leaders of the IPP and will be contesting the election from NA-70 (Sialkot). She is also the second candidate on the party’s list for sets reserved for women. Having already served as a minister in the PPP and PTI governments, she may once again get the information portfolio.

Firdous Ashiq Awan had founded the Society for Health and Development and Exchange, focusing on healthcare improvements in 1990. Elected to the National Assembly in 2002 on a seat reserved for women on a PML-Q ticket, she later joined the PPP and won a general seat (NA-111) from Sialkot in 2008. Having served as minister for population welfare and later as information minister, she offered resignation in 2011. The resignation was declined by Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani. In 2012, she became the ministry for national regulations and services. In 2015, she resigned from the PPP vice presidency and joined Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in 2017. She then contested and lost the 2018 general election. Appointed as special assistant to prime minister for information and broadcasting in April 2019, she held the position until April 2020. Later, she also served as special assistant to the Punjab chief minister for information from November 2020 to August 2021.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain

Salik, a son of former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, is the senior vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid. He is a candidate in the forthcoming elections from NA-64 (Gujrat City-Kunjah) and PP-32 (Kunjah). Both these constituencies are considered a safe bet for the PML-Q.

Salik had won a seat in the National Assembly in the by-election held on October 14, 2018, representing the party in NA-65 (Chakwal-II). Subsequently, on May 12, 2022, he was appointed as the federal minister in charge of the Board of Investment and tasked with overseeing Chinese and other foreign direct investments.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain represents the legacy of his grandfather, Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, and is following in the footsteps of his illustrious father.

Salik has a clean track record. He seems to avoid media attention but is popular with his constituents on account of his ready accessibility.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Lahore. He reports on politics, economy and militancy. He can be reached on X @HassanNaqvi5