News Desk |
A tough contest is expected between Ch. Nisar Ali Khan and Ghulam Sarwar Khan in NA-59 Rawalpindi III. Dissent PML-N leader Ch. Nisar Ali Khan is contesting the next general election as an independent candidate and on the other side Ghulam Sarwar Khan is contesting election from PTI platform. PML-N gave party ticket to Engineer Qamarul Islam Raja.
The inner sources stated that currently Ch. Nisar Ali Khan is facing serious difficulties due to not getting PML-N ticket. PTI Candidate Ghulam Sarwar Khan can grab this seat owing to the wide distribution of PML-N votes. From 1970 to 1977, this constituency was called NA-28 and during the period of 1977 to 2002, this constituency was renamed as NA-38.
Now after the 2002 general elections, this constituency was named NA-52. Now it has been changed to NA-59 Rawalpindi after the new delimitation. Ch. Nisar Ali Khan had been elected an MNA seven times in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2002 and 2008 from NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III). Seasonal politician Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had won this seat in 1988 as an independent candidate. PPP candidate Gen. Retired Taka Khan took second position by scoring 57665 votes.
PML-N has fielded its own candidate from NA-59 which will only exacerbate problems for both since PTI will benefit from the divided vote. PML-N seems hell bent upon keeping Nisar out of parliament even at the cost of this vital seat.
15 candidates participated in 2013 general election in NA-52 constituency of Rawalpindi. Ch. Nisar Ali Khan had won the election by receiving 132905 votes by defeating Lt. Col Rtd Ajmal Sabir Raja of PTI who got 69539 votes.
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However, political analysts believe that this time around, Nisar might not be able to outsmart his rivals in PTI. This is due to the internal rivalry within PML-N of which Nisar claims to be a part of even now. PML-N has fielded its own candidate from NA-59 which will only exacerbate problems for both since PTI will benefit from the divided vote. PML-N seems hell bent upon keeping Nisar out of parliament even at the cost of this vital seat.