n By-elections on 20 Punjab assembly seats today n 175 candidates mainly from PML-N and PTI in run to grab seats
n ECP declares 696 out of total 3131 polling stations very sensitive n Paramilitary troops deployed to ensure peaceful polling

ISLAMABAD   -   The stage is set to decide the future politics in Punjab, the biggest province of the country, with 175 candidates mainly from PML-N and PTI contesting on 20 constituencies of Punjab Assembly today to grab maximum number of seats.

The polling at the 20 constituencies including eight in South Punjab, will start at 8am for 4.57 million registered voters at a total 3131 polling stations. The bye-elections will pave the way for securing the position of chief minister in Punjab Assembly, as the candidates of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the PML-N are set to wrestle for maximum majority.

These 20 provincial constituencies are on the ballot after the electoral watchdog (ECP) de-seated 25 PTI MPAs including five elected on reserved seats for voting against the party line during the chief minister election held last month. The federal government has already deployed paramilitary troops – Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) – to maintain law and order situation during the by-elections.

The breakup suggests that the ruling party [PML-N] with the visible support of PDM needs at least nine seats, whereas the PTI requires 14 to win back the throne of Punjab. In this bye-election, around half a dozen constituencies will witness nail-biting competition between the candidates of these main parliamentary parties. It will also be a test of the candidates to make people cast their vote in the sizzling hot temperature in Punjab province. The turnout in these constituencies is comparatively better but a large number of female voters, as per previous polls, had avoided casting their vote.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has established a total of 3131 polling stations, including 731 male, 700 female and 1700 combined polling stations have been established across the 20 constituencies. The electoral watchdog has deemed 1204 polling stations sensitive, and 696 highly sensitive.

The polling stations from Lahore and Multan have comparatively been deemed much sensitive so the Army and Rangers would be deployed to avoid any untoward situation. In case of urgency, the ECP has also established control rooms in different cities to monitor the situation during the polling. In this bye-poll, the maximum number of turncoats [voted against the party lines] had won the 2018 general elections with a comfortable margin of victory as Independent candidates and later joined the PTI.

Political experts viewed that surprising results would be expected in this  election as in some of the constituencies the turncoats are in a comfortable position and the results in the rest of the constituencies would be in reaction to the current price-hike and increase in prices of petroleum products.

The survey, conducted by The Nation, reveals that equal contests are expected in most of the constituencies. In Lahore, PML-N has fielded Rana Ahsan Sharafat as its candidate who will contest PTI’s Mian Akram Usman.

This constituency falls under NA-129, where PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq is MNA, is going to witness tough competition. Nazir Ahmed Chohan of the PML-N is contesting Shabbir Gujjar of the PTI in PP-167. The constituency falls under NA-133, where PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik is sitting MNA, will witness interesting match. Muhammad Amin Zulqarnain of the PTI will be contesting against Zaheer Abbas Khokhar of the PTI in PP-170 (Lahore-XXVII). The constituency falls under NA-134, where PML-N’s Rana Mubashir Iqbal is MNA, will also witness a tough match. In PP-217 (Multan), the PML-N has fielded Muhammad Salman Naeem against PTI’s Zain Qureshi who is the son of Shah Mehmood Qureshi. In 2018, Naeem had won against Shah Mehmood Qureshi on this provincial seat.

The constituency falls under NA-156 where PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi is MNA, will witness a tough competition but the experts are of the view that Sultan Naeem would bag maximum votes. In PP-288 (Dera Ghazi Khan), the PML-N has fielded Abdul Qadir Khosa against his relative Saif Khosa from PTI.

Both the candidates have almost equal votes from their tribe/family [Khosa] in this constituency. The personality vote and support of the party would be important to change the situation, political experts believed.

In (Rawalpindi), PML-N has fielded Raja Sagheer Ahmed against PTI’s Lt. Col. Shabbir Awan. The results of the 2018 general election show that Raja Sagheer Ahmed, as an independent candidate, had bagged 44,287 votes to beat candidates of both the PML-N and PTI.

The constituency falls under NA-57, where PTI’s Sadaqat Ali Abbasi is an MNA. In PP-83 (Khushab), PML-N’s candidate is Ameer Haider who will contest PTI’s Hasan Aslam Awan. He is Umer Aslam’s younger brother. In 2018, Malik Ghulam Rasool Sangha had won the constituency as an independent candidate and later joined the PTI. Muhammad Ajmal Cheema is the PML-N candidate in PP-97 (Faisalabad).

He is contesting against PTI’s Ali Afzal Sahi. The constituency falls under NA-101, where PTI’s Muhammad Asim Nazeer is MNA. Nazeer is among the dissident PTI MNAs. Likewise, other constituencies would witness a tough competition in today’s bye-polls.