OKARA City News

What made Juj rule the roost in NA-144?
From Rao Fazlur Rahman
OKARA: Despite utmost struggle of one provincial minister Mian Yawar Zaman and one sitting MPA Mian Muhammad Munir, total support of the government machinery and clannish power, the PML-N candidate Chaudhry Ali Arif could not stand before the independent candidate Chaudhry Riazul Haq Juj in the by-election contest in NA-144, Okara-2.
Likewise, despite Imran Khan’s much drummed up visit of Okara could not bring victory to the PTI candidate Muhammad Ashraf Khan Sohna. Neither the PPP Jiyalas’ strength in the constituency could bring any success to the PPP candidate Chaudhry Sajjadul Hassan, former MNA. One independent candidate Mehr Abdus Sattar was able to bag more that 11,000 votes of tenants of Okara Military Farms (OMF). Why all big names failed to attract voters and why hectic efforts of political parties failed to bear fruit is a question that needs serious deliberations.
Some other significant factors had also come to the fore. To start with, the PML-N candidate Ali Arif lost by-election because he himself had no other credentials except for being the son of de-seated MNA Chaudhry Muhammad Arif.
Ch Arif had joined the PPP before the 2008 general elections, but was declared ineligible to contest the election. Then again, before the 2013 general elections, he returned to the PML-N, contested the election successfully, but was de-seated after over two years. Nothing special goes to his credit as far as development of the constituency is concerned. It seems that except for his own clan, he could not get votes of other clans of the constituency. Then there existed objection of status quo against Ali Arif, being the son of a long-standing politician, who was being accused of showing rudeness to his voters.
His opponent Ashraf Sohna, however, earned the title of being ‘stiff-necked’ even before quitting the PPP and joining the PTI. His voter sympathy coffer had turned empty long before his quitting the PPP. From beginning of the by-election campaign,
Former MNA Chaudhry Sajjadul Hassan did not seem determined to contest the election with full party vigour, neither the party inclined towards him to run a serious campaign. Thus he lost.
There stood out only one independent candidate, who had not past political history, except for his family history of benignity, humility, benevolence, clemency and lessening miseries of co-beings. Now the people of the constituency were free to express their hatred of the so-called sympathisers of the people, the old politicians and their parties.
However, there is evidence that 90% of the Arain clan cast vote in favour of Ali Arif. The city gold-smith clan voted for Muhammad Ashraf Sohna, whereas all voters including Rajput-Rao and other clans including Jat, Sheikhs, Syeds, daily-wagers, the PPP Jiyalas, the PTI supporters all expressed their hatred of the status quo and voted for the new face, Chaudhry Riazul Haq Juj.
Now it is incumbent on MNA Riazul Haq Juj not to let clanism re-emerge at least within his constituency in future.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has reportedly suspended party membership of its MPA from PP-189, Chaudhry Masud Shafqat Rubera, and a show-cause notice would be served on him for supporting Ch Riazul Haq Juj. However, the voters of the constituency say the PTI would have to restore the party membership of Rubera. They believe he would be accepted into the party ranks after MNA Ch Riazul Haq Juj’s joining of the PTI.
Another faction of voters says the newly elected MNA should join the PML-N for development of the area. There are some others also who believe that Juj should not join any political party and maintain his independence status in the assembly, which will ensure a successful future for him at the time of general elections.