The seat of NA-48 (Islamabad-I) is one of the very few constituencies of Pakistan where almost every political party is contesting along with many independent candidates, except Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) because of seat adjustment with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
The election campaign has been started in NA 48 but it is not a safe seat for any party or candidate and as many as 93 candidates filed their nomination papers to contest elections. The constituency covers mostly urban area of the federal capital but it also comprises small villages situated on the western side of Islamabad.
NA 48 includes many small villages where Peer Sahib of Golra Shareef and Khans have influence and they play an important role in the politics of this area. Urban area here is a mix of rich and middle class. The total in Islamabad (NA-48-NA 49) is 625,964. Out of the total, male voters are 337,900 and female voters are 288,064. PMLN won this seat with a heavy margin in 2008 general elections but in 2002 elections Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)'s Mian Aslam won on MMA ticket.
Anjum Aqeel Khan defeated Dr Israr Shah of PPPP in 2008 but due to his involvement in a land scandal of billions of rupees and the subsequent incident of his escape from Police Station with the help of his supporters, his reputation has suffered a major set back. He has still not been awarded a PML-N ticket, however, the party remains undecided in its choice for this seat.
Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the 2008 elections but is all set to make a strong comeback in the forthcoming elections. Soon after the election commission announced the date of elections, JI awarded Mian Muhammad Aslam a party ticket to contest the elections from this constituency. At present he is seen as more vibrant in his election campaign than his 92 other opponents by holding corner meetings in public places. The PPP has decided to field President Zardari's close aide Faisal Sakhi Butt and PML-Q is supporting the PPP guy as per the seat adjustment. He is contesting for the first time from NA-48 but does not have much of a vote bank.
Former President and Chief of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Pervez Musharraf also filed his nomination papers from here but Returning Officer disallowed him from contesting polls on the grounds that he does not meet the criteria set in Article 63 and 62 of the Constitution.
Sources in Tehreek-e-Insaf revealed to this correspondent that senior leader Javed Hashmi is likely to withdraw his candidature from NA-48 after the rejection of former president Pervez Musharraf's nomination papers. Hashmi claimed to have submitted his nomination papers in order to award an exemplary defeat to his rival Pervez Musharraf. In case Hashmi withdraws his candidature, PTI would have to choose a suitable candidate from a long list including Dr Israr Shah, Waseem Shahzad, Faisal Javid Khan, Adnan Randhawa and Amir Mughal.
In the most expensive city of the country, the richest electoral candidate belongs to the Jamaat-i-Islami, Mian Aslam. He has assets and wealth worth more than Rs 1.29 billion, wealth declared to be twice as much as what General Pervez Musharraf (Retd) revealed in his declaration. In complete contrast to these two, another candidate Ajmal Baloch of the PML-N is a pauper by comparison.
Former Chairman of Prime Minister's Task Force and PPPP candidate for NA-48, Faisal Sakhi Butt, has around Rs 200 million in the form of prize bonds etc, Rs 65.77 million in bank accounts, while his two cars are valued at Rs 5.66 million and his household items at Rs 1.35 million. He claims he has livestock priced at Rs 2 million but there is no mention of any agricultural land or residential property owned by him or his spouse. He has, however, given his address in F-8 sector. He owns two businesses - Building Materials (pvt) Ltd and Sakhi Butt & Sons Pharmaceutical (pvt) Ltd.
Anjum Aqeel Khan showed his income as Rs 185,980 and Rs 184,576 for years 2011 and 2012 respectively and shares a house located in G-10/2. He showed in his asset declaration that he has five tola gold and Rs 1,500,000 in cash. Out of 261 polling stations, 41 polling stations in Islamabad have been declared sensitive in NA- 48 and NA-49 because of the prevailing security concerns and friction among the contesting political parties.
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