NA-155 Lodhran-II a hot constituency in Multan Division

MULTAN: NA-155 Lodhran-II is a hot constituency in the Multan Division where a triangular but close contest is expected, according to political workers. The constituency where powerful clans have a key role in electioneering, it is also the lone role model of Jehangir Khan Tareen’s Lodhran Pilot Project.

Political workers say the constituency remained a tussle point between the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after a failed seat adjustment. PMLN Ticket Board member and ex-state minister Abdur Rehman Khan Kanju was refused party ticket from NA-154 Lodhran-I in case the PMLN adjusts the seat with the IPP for Jehangir Khan Tareen. Kanju argued that PMLN candidate Siddique Bloch lost his election with a close margin of 4,000 votes to the PTI candidate in the 2018 elections. Later, the PMLN allotted party ticket to Iqbal Shah who defeated the PTI candidate in by-polls. The PMLN did not allot party ticket to Siddique Khan who rejoined the PMLN with the efforts of Abdur Rehman Kanju. Kanju warned the party if Siddique was not issued party ticket, he would contest as an independent. The pressure foiled seat adjustment between the IPP and the PMLN and finally the PMLN issued party ticket to Siddique Khan.

The total number of registered electoral rolls in the constituency is 556,557 including 297,602 male and 258,955 female voters. The ECP statistics show the total registered voters in the constituency are 456,927 including 252,094 male and 204,833 female voters. The constituency areas include Lodhran Tehsil; 02/L Qanungo Halqa of Dunyapur Tehsil; Patwar Circles of 34/M Qanungo Halqa of Dunyapur Tehsil, Chak No 01 to 04/MPS, Kotli Wajwa and 044/M. Seventeen candidates have fielded their nominations in the constituency. Nine candidates are representing political parties while the rest of eight candidates are independents. The candidates include Ahmed Deen Malik (PML Zia), Jehangir Khan Tareen (IPP), Siddique Khan Baloch (PMLN), Rana Muhammad Rafique (TLP), Sajjid Iqbal (Pakistan Markazi Muslim League), Salim Abbas (Seraikistan Democratic Party), Ziaur Rehman Tamimi (JUIF), Muhammad Azhar (PPP) and Wasim Ahmed (People’s Alliance Party). The independents include Syed Ali Muhammad Shah, Iffat Tahira, Ghulam Mustafa, Iqbal Shah, Akram Qaisar, Omar Baloch, Muhammad Qasim and Mudassir Jehanzeb.

The Election Commission of Pakistan delimited the constituency as NA-161 Lodhran-II in the 2018 elections. Fifteen candidates contested the election including four independents. Tareen did not contest the election due to his disqualification. He fielded Shafiq Araeen from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and he won the slot with 122,069 votes. PMLN candidate Siddique Khan Baloch received 116,236 votes. No candidate from the PPP contested, Muhammad Akram Qaisar of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan received 4,473 votes, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal candidate Ziaur Rahman Tamimi 4,473, Pakistan Awami Tehreek candidate Mushtaq Malik 718, PTI-G candidate Ayesha Gulalai Wazir 1,629, AAT candidate Iffat Tahira 972 and Seraikistan Democratic Party candidate Saleem Abbas 724. The independents included Mian Sajid with 5,802 votes, Imran Raza Gillani 3,457, Azhar Shah 808, Iqbal Shah 199, Aamir Iqbal 181, Waseem Ahmad 164 and Umair Baloch 133.

The ECP delimitation listed the constituency as NA-155 Lodhran-II in the 2013 elections. Twelve candidates contested the poll from this constituency including five candidates from political parties and seven independents. Abdur Rahman Kanju contested the poll as an independent and won the slot with 85,376 votes and his uncle Akhtar Khan Kanju with PMLN ticket received 60,488 votes and lost. PTI candidate Nawab Amanullah Khan got 42,186 votes, PPP candidate Rana Muhammad Faraz Noon 22,264, MQM candidate Meraj Ahmad 659 and KMP candidate Baqa Muhammad Khan 440. The independents included Hafiz Abul Majeed with 4,734 votes, Falak Sher 1,177, Riaz Jutt Boka 679, Attaullah Awan 420, Kamran Abbas Malik 211 and Rana Allah Wasaya Utra 202.

The ECP delimitation labeled the constituency as NA-155 Lodhran-II in 2008. Five candidates from political parties contested the polls. Only one independent fielded his nomination. PPP candidate Nawab Hayatullah Khan Tareen won the slot with 50,490 votes. PMLN candidate Akhtar Khan Kanju bagged 41,642 votes and lost. PML candidate Ajmal Khan Kanju received 40,109 votes. MQM candidate Amjad Hussain Uttera got 921 votes and Jahangir Noon, independent, received 112 votes.