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Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may be unable to retain its two National Assembly seats in the federal capital because of stiff competition from PTI, JI and PPP candidates. With hardly a week left for the general elections, no one is sure which party is going to win these two important constituencies in Islamabad and hectic efforts are under way to woo the voters.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claims it would make a "clean sweep" from urban areas while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are upbeat about giving a tough time to PTI in rural areas of the city. PPP candidate Faisal Sakhi Butt for NA-48, former adviser to prime minister on Islamabad Affairs, was shown the door by Islamabad High Court (IHC), effectively ending his monopoly over Capital Development Authority (CDA). He is vigorously campaigning, but background interviews show that he is unlikely to win the seat.
A random survey conducted by Business Recorder showed that potential voters are either unaware of who Butt is or accuse him of corruption. Gulzar Khan, a resident said: "We're going to vote for PTI. The corrupt (people) need to be taught a lesson." At present, Mian Muhammad Aslam of JI is seen vibrant in election campaigns relative to his opponents by holding corner meetings in public places, but the JI is still not in a position to secure the seat without any seat adjustment with other political party. The JI has a vote bank in both urban and rural areas.
All political parties are busy in electioneering - holding corner meetings and wall-chalking is on the rise to muster support for candidates. Shops, restaurants and several buildings have been painted with flags and slogans of various political parties in the federal capital.
NA-48 (Islamabad -1) covers mostly urban area of the federal capital but it also comprises small villages with a literacy rate that is relatively higher than the national average. The total number of registered voters is 294,193, including 156,606 male and 137587 female voters. PML-N's decision to field Anjum Aqeel Khan, who defeated Dr Syed Israr Shah of PPPP in general elections 2008 in NA-48 (Islamabad-1), may prove costly subsequent to Aqeel's involvement in National Police Foundation Rs 6 billion land scam and his daring escape from the Police Station with the help of his supporters.
The PTI decision to field Javed Hashmi may not prove to be a good one as Hashmi is a permanent resident of Multan and not actively participating in electioneering process in the constituency like the other candidates for NA-48 - Mian Aslam of JI, Faisal Sakhi Butt of PPP and Anjum Aqeel Khan of PML-N. NA-48 rural areas vote bank is based on Biradaris - Khan Biradri is considered a major one among others, but it is divided between PTI and PML-N.
Business Recorder conducted an anecdotal survey of general public residing in urban and rural areas of NA-48 and the majority, particularly the youth, said that they would vote for the 'Bat' - PTIs election symbol; several others said that they wanted to vote for PML-N but given Aqeel's reputation they may vote for Mian Aslam of JI instead. Zahid Malik, a resident of I-10 told Business Recorder that a tough competition is expected between Hashmi and Aqeel: "I will vote for PML-N regardless of Anjum Aqeel's land scam. But my two children...have decided to vote for PTI."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2013

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