News Analysis |
The former State Minister, Abid Sher Ali and ex-Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah Khan, decided to contest on the PML-N tickets from NA-108 and PP-113, respectively. In an attempt to keep their vote bank intact, members of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), stuck to their respective constituencies.
Witnessing their relationship in the previous local bodies elections, these PML-N members, known for their traditional, ‘tiger’ symbol, showed signs of an unequivocal conduct being exercised.
A change in their election symbols, suggested that masked emotions were surfacing at their own pace. None of the two groups opted for their part’s original election symbol, of the ‘tiger’, for their candidates.
Contesting from NA-106, this time, Rana Sanaullah has abandoned his old provincial constituency PP-113 (also known as PP-70, in the past), leaving Mr. Abid to contest from NA-108, the same constituency from which his father had been elected as MNA.
They contested using two other symbols, “bucket”, for Abid Sher Ali and “diamond”, for Rana Sana’s group. Rivalry among these groups has been witnessed on several occasions in the past. In fact they had been in effect since, Aamir Sher Ali, a former city mayor and Abid Sher’s elder brothers’ defeat against Rana Sana’s group in the constituency of CC-116 was in order.
Aamir Sher Ali, had contested for CC-116, his native constituency, on the ‘bucket’ symbol, and lost against Ashiq Rehmani, belonging to Rana Sanaullah’s group. Holding Sana’s group responsible for his elder brother’s defeat, Sher Ali group vowed to respond to their rivals in the mayor elections.
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Previously, Sheraz Kahloon, winner of a special seat of the Municipal Corporation for the mayor’s slot, won in a clear majority against Abdul Razzaq Malik, from Sana’s group. This ongoing tussle among the groups costed former MPA, Khawaja Mohammad Islam, a party ticket in times today, for PP-111.As a result, making him end up as an independent candidate.
Mr. Islam had good relations with Rana Sanaullah, however due to emerging differences among them, his support shifted to Sher Ali’s group candidates, as witnessed in the mayor elections. Failing to resolve their differences within their party, PML-N couldn’t hide the ongoing rivalry.
A change in their election symbols, suggested that masked emotions were surfacing at their own pace. None of the two groups opted for their part’s original election symbol, of the ‘tiger’, for their candidates.
At a press conference held a couple of months ago, father of Abid Sher Ali, Mr. Sher Ali, allegedly accused Rana Sanaullah of being involved in the killing of 21 people, who were allegedly gunned down in different police encounters.
However, Rana Sanaullah couldn’t be concluded after an investigation was conducted by former city police officer, Afzaal Kausar and ex-senior superintendent of police (SSP), investigation wing Irfanullah Khan.
Read more: PTI rules out alliance with PML-N and PPP
Similarly, this critique in underway on both sides, as Abid Sher Ali’s supporters allege that Rana Sanaullah was responsible for getting the party name badmouthed, by introducing violence to silence his rivals. They blame the ex-law minister for target killing, police encounters and even murders executed blindly.
Contesting from NA-106, this time, Rana Sanaullah has abandoned his old provincial constituency PP-113 (also known as PP-70, in the past), leaving Mr. Abid to contest from NA-108, the same constituency from which his father had been elected as MNA.