New faces to debut in 2018 polls

LAHORE: Scions of noted political and influential families of the country are going to make their electoral debut in the upcoming general elections.

Families siding with mainstream parties like PPP, PML-N or regional parties like Awami National Party (ANP) are expected to field their young members in the general elections, which till date, are likely to take place by the end of the year 2018.

The hallmark of the upcoming general elections is the electoral debut of Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who is going to contest the National Assembly election from Larkana, the native district of his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as well as his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Born in September 1988 to Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal was nominated as the chairman of the party after the assassination of his mother in December 2007.

Under the old delimitations of constituencies, NA-204 and NA-207 are two seats which are so far considered as the most appropriate launching pad for Bilawal. The PPP chairman is expected to contest from either of this seat, which falls in Larkana city as well as Ratodero respectively.

From NA-204, PPP stalwart late Ayaz Soomro won in the 2013 general elections whereas from NA-207, Ms Faryal Talpur, Bilawal's aunt and sister of Asif Ali Zardari, won in 2008 and 2013. NA-204 is the seat which consists of Larkana city, Tehsil Larkana and Baqrani. From this seat, party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, former PPP Chairperson Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had won in different elections.

In 2013, MNA Ayaz Soomro had defeated Ghinwa Bhutto, head of the PPP-SB, Moazzam Abbasi, a member of the Safdar Abbasi group, as well as the PML-F candidate.

The seat NA-207 also possesses historic significance as it was the seat from where party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto had pitched herself for the 2008 general elections but just 11 days before the elections, she was assassinated in an election rally on December 27 at Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi. The general elections which were scheduled on January 8, 2008, were postponed till February 18 and from NA-207 seat, Faryal Talpur emerged victorious. This constituency consists of Naudero, Ratodero, Qabo Saeed Khan, Shahdad Kot, etc. Naudero is the hometown of party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Besides, some party stalwarts have also advised Bilawal to contest poll from Punjab where currently and in case the party chairman also fields himself from the province, he may contest from Rahimyar Khan, the district from where party won two National Assembly seats and facing a whitewash in rest of the Punjab otherwise in 2013.

Keeping in view the blood flowing in his gene pool, it would be inappropriate to rule out the name of Aimal Wali in the next general elections. Bacha Khan family of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the second most noted family of the country which is fielding its scion in form of Aimal Wali Khan, son of ANP head Asfand Yar Wali. Aimal Wali is the son of Asfand Yar Wali, grandson of Khan Abdul Wali Khan and great grandson of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan, a staunch advocate of the theory of non-violence.

Aimal Wali Khan is expected to contest from a provincial seat of Charsadda, his native district. Born in November 1986, Aimal Wali Khan did his O' Levels from Aitchison College, Lahore and also completed BBA and MBA from Preston University, Dubai. He is currently an active member of the party and also seen addressing public rallies during by-polls, local government elections and mass contact campaigns.

PK-58, possibly under the fresh delimitations, is the seat from where he is going to contest the polls in 2018. Talking to The News, Aimal Wali Khan stated that he was a strong believer in Pakistan and stated that the situation could improve here if the institutions worked in their constitutional ambits. He said that his first priority after winning the polls is to work for the provincial autonomy as pledged in the 18th Amendment and ensure the sources were transferred to KP. He added that he would work for the provincial autonomy that eventually means the autonomy of districts that must look after the development affairs. The representatives sitting in elected assemblies should remain focused on the process of legislation, which is their constitutional duty, said Aimal Wali Khan.

He also stated that in health sector, he would play his role in bringing reforms and work for improvement in it as per the manifesto of the party which also gives equal significance to education.

Regarding the reformation of Muttehida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of the religious parties, Aimal Wali stated that it wasn't anything new for the progressive political parties as such alignments had been taking place in past as well. However, he said something that was alarming was the role of 'hidden forces' whose support to MMA could result in conveying a changed and a negative picture of Pakistan and KP. He said it was unfair to do politics in the name of religion and we must avoid it. Nevertheless, he said people were much aware now and it would be hard to defeat the nationalist forces now.

Son of another noted political figure from Punjab is also expected to make his electoral debut from Multan and that is Asif Rajwana, son of Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana. Asif Rajwana, a lawyer and a staunch party activist, has been seen on multiple occasions in pleading the case of his party and mobilising the youth of his district.

Under the fresh delimitations, it is NA-155, and previous NA-149, the seat of Multan for which Asif Rafique Rajwana seems as an aspirant and seen as a potential candidate in the party cadres. Although his candidature is still a subject to the party ticket, yet he is actively campaigning for next polls and sources said that his father, who also holds a respected position in the party, is also lobbying for him. Asif Rajwana holds a BSCS (Honors), MSCS as well as LLB.

From this seat, in 2013 general elections, Makhdum Javed Hashmi emerged victorious on the ticket of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. In 2014, when he vacated the seat after bidding farewell to PTI, Amir Dogar, a former MPA and son of former Senator, Mayor of Multan late Salah-ud-Din Dogar, won from here in the by-poll while defeating Javed Hashmi. Amir was backed by PTI and later announced joining Tehreek-e-Insaf.

In 2008, the PML-N won this seat in form of Sheikh Tahir Rasheed where as in 2002; it was PPP's Malik Liaqat Ali Dogar who won from here.

Talking to The News, Asif Rajwana stated that entire country was endorsing the narrative and stance of party Quaid Nawaz Sharif, adding as a party stalwart, he would continue to work as per the vision of the party leadership. He said it was the PML-N government which had taken historic measures for the welfare of the people of Southern Punjab which include Women University, Nishtar University, Mian Nawaz Sharif Agricultural University, Kidney Centre, a huge road network as well as number of other initiatives in health and education sectors.

He also said that recent victory of the PML-N in Lodhran by-polls was the reflection of people's trust in its leadership and the next elections would prove a replay of these by-polls.

Besides, Makhdum Ali Mehmood, son of President PPP Southern Punjab Makhdum Ahmed Mehmood, is also expected to make his debut in general elections. He has already been introduced in the LG polls but he would be contesting for the first time for any seat in a general election. Already, both his brothers, Makdhum Murtaza Mehmood and Makhdum Mustafa Mehmood had won their debut polls in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Another new entrant in politics is expected from Multan in form of Rana Shahid Hassan, brother of PML-N Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan who has recently been elected to the Upper House of Parliament. Rana Shahid has been an active campaigner of the party from Multan city from where his brother and father had won on different occasions. Shahid's father Rana Noorul Hassan served as MPAs for multiple terms whereas his brother Rana Mehmood elected as MNA in 2002, 2008 and later MPA in a by-poll in 2015. Rana Mehmood once also defeated Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani from a National Assembly seat in 2008. Now, Rana Shahid is dubbed as a strong candidate on the provincial seat from where his brother won in the by-polls on the PML-N ticket or the NA seat, from where his brother Mehmood won twice.