Daily Times

CONSTITUENCY ANALYSIS

MULTAN: NA-156 (earlier NA 155) is a stronghold of PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi who has secured support of at least 15 notable politicians of the area. Though situated in the heart of Multan city, NA-156’s politics has revolved around the caste factor. The constituency has pockets with population of six major castes: Ranas, Qureshis, Ansaris, Arains, Sheikhs, and Syeds.

The constituency’s population is 80 percent urban and 20 percent rural. The number of registered voters is 444,724.

Since the Zia era, this constituency has had a bent towards conservative right-wing contestants affiliated with various League factions. A non-Leaguer, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was able to win the seat for the first time in 2013 general elections. Analysts believe that his victory against Rana Mahmoodul Hassan of PML-N was owed to the support of the sizeable Arain community.

NA-156 is the only constituency in Multan where the majority of voters trace their roots to the Urdu speaking muhajirs who settled here at the time of partition and are distinct because of their language and culture. However, ethnic identity is not a factor that matters in electoral politics of the area.

The Mutahhida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan tried its luck here in 2013, and Pak Sar Zameen Party is in the race this year, but its chances of success are grim.

Unlike the ethnic factor, sectarian fault lines play a significant role in the area. Almost 35 percent of the population in the constituency belongs to the Shia community. This time, Shah Mahmood has been careful to court their support, using his family connections since his son’s in-laws are from the community. Being the custodian of Bahauddin Zikriya’s shrine, Qureshi is already popular among the Sunni barelvis.

To counter Shah Mahmood, PML-N has given ticket to Amir Saeed Ansari, the chairman of the Zakat Committee. The party has put the incumbency factor to use, by completing various development projects in the area. Many residents recall that road and sewerage projects left unattended for decades were completed overnight.

In a PP seat under the NA-156 seat, Shah Mehmood himself is facing a PTI dissident Salman Naeem, a businessman who is running a well-funded campaign even as an independent candidate.

NA-156 is the only constituency in Multan where the majority of voters trace their roots to the Urdu speaking muhajirs who settled here at the time of partition and are distinct because of their language and culture. However, ethnic identity is not a factor that matters in electoral politics of the area

Analysts believe that Naeem is likely to divide the PTI vote in the constituency.

During his campaign, Naeem has given out 100 Umrah tickets through a lucky draw, besides distributing shawls to every home in the constituency to attract women voters. He has also sent buckets, his election symbol to houses in the area.

To win the support of the Arain community, PML-N has given a ticket to Tasneem Kausar, wife of Abdul-Waheed Arain who was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

In PP-216, PTI has fielded its Multan chapter general secretary, Nadeem Qureshi, from PP-216 against Haji Ahsanuddin Qureshi of PML-N. Speaking to Daily Times, he said Shah Mahmood picked the constituency because of its urban majority with a high literacy rate.

“Most of the voters in the area are between the ages of 25 and 35 years. They will support the PTI,” he said. Ansaris are supporting the Pakistan People’s Party candidate Shakil Labar.

During his campaign, Salman Naeem, an independent candidate, has given out 100 Umrah tickets through a lucky draw, besides distributing shawls to every home in the constituency to attract women voters. He has also sent buckets, his election symbol to houses in the area

In PP-213, Barrister Waseem Khan Badozai of PTI is contesting polls against Mohammad Ali Khokar of PML-N. Khokar, a two time MPA is a feudal lord and former chairman of Multan Development Authority (MDA). On one of the PP seats, Mureed Hussain Qureshi, brother of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, is supporting PML-N candidate Rana Shahid-ul-Hassan, the city president of PML-N and son of Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan.

Candidates’ pitch

This constituency is of importance because of development works done by PML-N. Nearly 60 percent share of the biggest development project Metro Bus, worth PKR 35 billion is in NA-156. Around PKR 2 billion were paid in compensation to those whose shops, houses and properties were demolished for the project.

To earn votes, PML-N candidates, in corner meetings, are focusing on development works done in the last five years, such as CPEC, Metro Bus Service, Laptop scheme, the Islamabad International Airport and 3G, 4G services.

PTI is focusing on the provision of jobs to youth, elimination of police culture and strengthening of institutions in Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa.

Published in Daily Times, July 7^th 2018.