ISLAMABAD - The election for NA-60, one of the hotly contested constituencies of Rawalpindi, has become a cakewalk for Sheikh Rashid Ahmed after the conviction of Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine case.

The life sentence handed down to Mr Abbasi takes out yet another staunch ally of ousted PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif from the electoral race. But despite being a political blow, political observers here said that the conviction will further embolden the beleaguered political party and would result in eliciting more sympathy from the voters. For the time being, Hanif Abbasi is out of the electoral race, but in the long run, the decision would politically benefit him, analysts here say.

The circumstances under which the maximum punishment was handed down have also raised serious questions about the fairness of the trial. First of all the court process was rushed to the conclusion and then the verdict was delayed till 11 at night making it further suspicious. The acquittal of rest of the seven accused in the case has also raised many eyebrows in legal circles.

Hanif Abbasi was contesting on one of the National Assembly constituency in Rawalpindi NA-60 and was facing AML chief Sheikh Rashid who is also contesting from the adjacent National Assembly constituency NA-63.

Hanif Abbasi won this seat in the by-election in 2002 when after winning two seats from Rawalpindi Sh Rashid had fielded his nephew in by-polls. At that time Hanif Abbasi was a candidate of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

Later he joined PML-N and once again won this seat in 2008 defeating Sh Rashid but he lost it to PTI chairman in 2013 elections.

Political analysts were expecting a neck-to-neck competition between Hanif Abbasi and Sh Rashid but he fell victim to the ephedrine case, which was instituted against him in 2012. The other known political figures facing the similar misuse of ephedrine quota cases were former federal minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin and son of former premier Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ali Mousa Gilani.

Under the Election Commission of Pakistan laws in case of disqualification of any candidate the elections in the constituency could not be halted hence in the absence of Hanif Abbasi, it would be a walkover like situation for Sheikh Rashid, the other strong contender on the seat.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, while talking to a private TV channel, termed the verdict based on injustice and said that the court should have handed down the verdict in the case after the elections.

She further said the verdict had vindicated the narrative of Mian Nawaz Sharif and would reflect in shape of party’s victory in July 25 polls.

Political analysts said other PML-N candidates in the city might secure more votes in reaction to the coercive tactics against PML-N candidates as another candidate from Rawalpindi district Qamarul Islam was picked up by NAB in ‘clean drinking water’ scandal. Qamarul Islam was contesting elections from NA-59, and now in his absence, his teenage son and daughter are running his election campaign as the fellow is on remand with top anti-graft body of the country.

Sh Rashid campaign gets a shot in the arm