NA-120 by-election —A Curtain Raiser and Polling Scheme

By Agha Iqrar Haroon

Almost six days are left in NA-120 Lahore III by-election. Campaigning by political parties has entered last phase, indicating that main contest is between Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf. Two ladies are in run—one is wife of former prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif— Kalsum Nawaz while other is a medical doctor. Kalsum Nawaz had been marching on Hall Road in same constituency when his husband (Nawaz Sharif) was arrested and jailed by dictator Gen (retd) Musharraf while Dr Yasmin Rashid is repeater in this constituency having repute of a fighter among doctors. She had been president of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore and Punjab.

I had been covering elections in this constituency since 1988 general elections and can understand that this by-election should be considered as one the most serious elections for PMLN in recent past because results of this constituency would determine countrywide trend in forthcoming general elections of 2018.

The constituency of “NA-120 Lahore III” is always considered as the “The Vatican of the Vatican of PMLN”. Comprising of former constituencies of NA-95 and NA-96, today’s NA-120 is birthplace of politics of former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and his brother Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif.

This constituency has been considered as “politically mature” where votes had been polled on party basis rather than on Baradari (caste, clan etc) basis. However, religious schools of thoughts played considerable role in past in this constituency where Daata Darbar Sahib (a very significant place for Baralvi school of thought) and Gamay Shah Karbala (the main and largest Imambargha of Shias) are situated.

Islampura, Bilal, Gunj, Raj Garh, Riwaz Garden, Sanat Nagar, Ram Nagar, Dave Samaj Road, Sham Nagar, Sanda, Civil Secretariat, Prem Nagar, Momin Pura Kasurpura, Sanda, Muzang and Kareem Park are pre-dominantly Baralvis and Shias areas.

New Anarkali, Urdu Bazar, Hall Road, Koper Road, Mayo Hospital, Lower Mall, Lake Road, Shahrah-i-Fatima Jinnah, Moj Darya, Litton Road, Chauburji, , Band Road, Ravi Colony, and Khokhar Town mostly business centres and mixed population of Deobands and Baralvis.

Once considered as strongholds of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), areas of this constituency slipped away from PPP’s hands when Sharif family entered into politics in mid 80s. However, PPP gave a good fight to PMLN in many elections but margin of defeat for PPP had been big as PMLN always bagged over 60% of total polled in these areas.

PMLN voter is time-tested and stood with Sharif family even when former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had to leave Pakistan for Saudi Arabia under a forced-asylum. PPP stalwart late Jahangir Badar miserably lost election in year 2008 against a young PMLN candidate Bilal Yaseen who was that time novice and unknown. Bilal Yaseen bagged 65,946 while late Jahangir Badar got 24, 380.

Results in 2013 were as usual when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bagged 91,744 votes (60.57 % total votes cast) and his main rival candidate; Dr. Yasmin Rashid of the PTI got 52,321 votes (34.57 % of the total votes cast).

Hailing from a political family of Temple Road (Muzang Area NA-120), Dr Yasmin Rashid had served in several hospitals of same constituency as gynecologist. She has her own following and her own clout because of her personality and PTI vote did not matter significantly. It may be mentioned that her brother-in-law Shahid Nabi Malik lost election against Ishaq Dar of PMLN in 1993 from same area when he was contesting from PPP ticket and got substantial votes.

Now situation of NA-120 is slightly different. Former Prime Mian Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by Supreme Court on July 28 in result of a write petition filed by three political parties including PTI against him for his alleged involvement of money laundering when names of his children surfaced in Panama papers Leaks. Former Prime Mian Nawaz Sharif left Islamabad for Lahore via G.T Road and ended his journey outside Daata Darbar.

By-election was called in NA-120 and wife of Former Prime Mian Nawaz Sharif —Kalsum Nawaz Sharif is contesting election who is under medical treatment in United Kingdom. Their daughter Maryum Nawaz Sharif is handling election campaign. Maryum Nawaz Sharif kicked off election campaign of her mother from same place where Mian Nawaz Sharif ended her journey from Islamabad to Lahore—Daata Darbar. Next day, Maryum Nawaz Sharif also visited Bibi Pak Daman which is the mausoleum of Ruqayyah bint Ali located in same constituency. Her design of campaign helped to neutralize a wave that could harm PMLN in by-election because opponents were projecting that PMLN had no support of voters of Baralavis and Shia schools of thought. Another development also supported PMLN and that was fielding of Qari Muhammad Yaqub Sheikh of Difa-i-Council Pakistan (A gala of Deoband school of thought) by JUI (Samiul Haq). Now opponents lost a chance to claim that PMLN is supported by Deobands.

PTI and PMLN both are confident to win this by-election that can rightly be considered as “Decisive Election before general elections 2018”. PMLN has target to enhance its lead and margin over previously defeated PTI repeater candidate Dr. Yasmin Rashid while PTI is trying to get every possible vote from the constituency. By-election would be held on September 17, 2017 at 220 polling stations and 573 polling booths.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday constituted seven monitoring teams based on 20 officials from Islamabad and four provinces for NA-120 bye-election Lahore-III.

According to ECP, these well-equipped teams with having cameras, transport and supporting staff will start their duties from Saturday (September 16) evening. Pakistan Army will oversee polling process and strict measures have been announced because this election would determine the future of both the political parties.

NA-120 by-election can be compared with 2017 general elections of Malta—-a tiny country in the heart of Europe. Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat was accused of money laundering in Panama Papers Leaks. There was tremendous pressure on his party to remove him but he stated that allegation against him were fabricated. Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil demanded his resignation but Muscat and his wife Michelle denied the claims and Muscat insisted that he was clean and he wanted to protect Malta from uncertainty therefore he called early general election. His party won early elections with greater margin and his nation voted for him against all allegations he was facing from opposition.

Polling Scheme for NA 120 – LAHORE-III

Polling stations of NA 120 – LAHORE-III