Daily Times

The countdown for the general elections 2018 has started as all political parties have finalised their candidates and kicked off their election campaigns. Each political party claims to win the upcoming general elections and form the government for next 5 years.

Here are the five major constituencies in which heavyweights of different political parties would be contesting each other:

NA-60 (Sheikh Rasheed Vs Hanif Abassi)

In the National Assembly constituency NA-60, Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad will contest elections against Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N’s) heavyweight Hanif Abbasi.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will support Rasheed in this constituency while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has fielded Mukhtar Abbas as its candidate.

In 2013 general elections, PTI Chairman Imran Khan defeated Abbasi with a lead of 13,258 votes.

Rasheed got victory from NA-56  (now NA-62) in the previous elections.

The Awami Muslim League leader was elected member of the National Assembly seven times in his political career.

On the other hand, Abbasi had defeated Rasheed two times— 2008 general elections and 2002 by-elections for NA-56.

The Awami Muslim League leader is also contesting from NA-62 against PML-N’s Barrister Danial Chaudhry.

NA-73 (Khawaja Asif Vs Usman Dar)

A nailing contest is expected between PML-N’s Khawaja Asif and PTI’s Usman Dar in NA-73 (previously NA-110), Sialkot.

In the previous general elections, Khawaja Asif made his way to the National Assembly by winning the election with 92, 803 votes. Usman Dar managed to get 71, 525 votes.

It is important to note that Asif didn’t lose any election in this constituency since he contested his first in 1993.

NA-245 (Aamir Liaquat VS Farooq Sattar)

Karachi’s NA-245 is being considered as a battleground between two former Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) stalwarts, Aamir Liaquat Hussain and Farooq Sattar.

Sattar is the candidate of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) whereas the PTI has awarded ticket to Liaquat for the constituency which has been a stronghold of MQM.

In 2013 general elections, Rashid Godil was elected a member of the National Assembly on MQM’s ticket.

NA-131 (Imran Khan VS Khawaja Saad Rafique)

PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique will contest PTI Chief Imran Khan for Lahore’s NA-131.

Rafique got 123,094 votes against PTI’s Hamid Khan who managed to get 83, 190 votes.

Khan has predicted close contest between PTI and PML-N in Lahore’s constituencies.

NA-247 (Arif Alvi VS Farooq Sattar)

Karachi’s NA-247 is an other interesting constituency where nominees of all the major stakeholders of Karachi’s politics are in race.

Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) has fielded former “Mother of PTI” against Arif Alvi, who was elected member of the National Assembly on the PTI’s ticket in 2013 general elections.

MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar is also contesting for NA-247.

Moreover, Aziz Memon will be the PPP’s candidate in this constituency.

General Elections 2018 are scheduled to be held on July 25.