ISLAMABAD - With the start of election year 2018, the big political dynasties have started making grounds to make way to the next parliament. Members of these families will be contesting on various seats including against each other from different political platforms to keep hold on political power.
This tricky game of national politics is not new, as almost in every general election specific tribes and families get maximum seats in the provincial and national assemblies.
Candidates from castes including Gilani, Jatoi, Khar, Gormani, Kanjo, Waranar, Qaisrani, Leghari, Daraishak have managed to wield political power and in the next election will try to continue their representation primarily in the Punjab.
The upcoming general polls will once again be interesting as many close relatives even brothers are expected to contest against each other.
The various assembly seats and political power in this way will remain within the families.
According to a research carried out by this scribe, some interesting contests will be witnessed in the upcoming polls 2018.
Late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan’s three sons are expected to contest from different political parties. Nawabzada Mansoor Ahmed Khan on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan on the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), and Nawabzada Israr is expected to contest on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ticket.
In the last general elections, both Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan and Nawabzada Mansoor Ahmed Khan contested from Muzaffargarh but both the sons of the late Nawabzada Nasrullah failed to win.
Khars, another politically strong tribe, are expected to field close relatives against each other in the next elections. Mustafa Khar’s son Abdul Rahman Khar may contest against cousin Tahir Miladi Khar in the next polls.
From Multan area, the famous Gilani and Qureshi families may once again contest against each other.
Ali Musa Gilani son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani may contest against the PTI’s senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s son Zain Qureshi.
Interestingly, in southern Punjab, a father is expected to contest against his son. A renowned figure Zulfiqar Khosa may contest against his son Saifud Din Khosa in the upcoming elections.
Members of the famous Leghari tribe of Baloch caste is expected to context the upcoming elections against each other.
Maqsood Leghari is expected to nominate his son Muhammad Khan Leghari against his cousins.
Moreover, Makhdoom Shahabud Din from Rahim Yar Khan is expected to contest on the National Assembly (NA) seat against his nephew Khusro Bukhtyar in the upcoming elections.
The Jatoi family members are also expected to contest against each other.
Qayyum Jatoi is expected to face close relative Moazam Jatoi.
Similarly, two Gopang family members, Khizar Hayat Gopang and Ashiq Hussain Gopang, are expected to contest against each other.
From Bhawalpur (Ahmadpur east), Samiul Hasan Gilani from the PTI is set to contest against his step-brother Ali Hasan Gilani.
In another contest between family members, Abdul Rahman Kanjo son of former MNA Siddique Kanjo is expected to face close relatives, either Khursheed Kanjo or Saad Khursheed.
Two close relatives of Mazari family, Atif Mazari of the PML-N and Dost Muhammad Mazari are expected to face each other in the upcoming polls.
Two prominent members of the Daraishak family, Nasrusllah Daraishak and Hafeez Daraishak, are once again expected to contest against each other.
Mir Badshah Qaisrani from the JUI-F is expected to contest against his cousin Barrister Imam Bux Qaisrani from the PML-N in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Political pundits say that though contests between political dynasties though divide family vote but ultimately one member of the same family manages to get the seat.
Even in by-elections of NA-154, sons of both the candidates Jahangir Tareen and Sadique Baloch will contest for the National Assembly seat.
Umair Baloch son of Sadique Baloch will face Ali Tareen in the by-poll expected to be held in mid-February.