With polling two days away, candidate of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) were reaching out to the voters whereas Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not actively canvass for votes in the constituency - the former because of his accident in Lahore and the latter because of Nawaz Sharif's decision to suspend campaigning for a day to express solidarity with Imran Khan.
However, an anecdotal survey by Business Recorder of a large number of people of the constituency revealed that the actual contest in May 11 elections would be between Mian Aslam of JI and Anjum Aqeel of PML-N. Voice Messages and Short Message Service (SMS) from JI candidate, Mian Muhammad Aslam emphasises numerous works he did for the constituency when he was member of the Parliament after 2002 elections.
Mian Aslam as the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) candidate won the 2002 elections but did not participate in the polls in 2008 because his party decided to boycott them. According to his documents, he is a businessman and the net worth of his firm 'Arsan Poultry' is Rs 980 million. The support of peer of Golar Sharif is considered very important for victory of any candidate, which is not available to Mian Aslam.
Anjum Aqeel Khan defeated Dr Syed Israr Shah of PPPP in general elections 2008, but his reputation is tarnished after his involvement in a land scandal of billions of rupees as well as the incident of his escape from Police Station with the help of his supporters made headlines. Anjum Aqeel brought shame to PML-N and this time his or PML-N chances in NA-48 Islamabad are not very bright, several people of the constituency, when interviewed, told Business Recorder.
"We like Nawaz Sharif but Anjum Aqeel has not visited us for the last five years. Unlike Anjum, Mian Aslam is always available to address our problems. We are undecided whom to vote," a shop keeper in Karachi Company market stated. In corner meetings, Faisal Sakhi Butt, the candidate of PPP is seen very active and confident that PPP would win elections as the PTI and the PML-N vote would be split. Voters of NA-48 are receiving voice messages from Sakhi requesting their vote. The PPP decided to field Faisal Sakhi Butt in a seat to seat adjustment with PML-Q.
Nadeem Iqbal, a supporter of PPP attributed the success of PML-N in 2008 elections to the boycott of polls by Jamaat-i-Islami, whose vote bank voted for the PML-N. He argues that in elections of 2002, when PML-N was facing a challenging environment with its top leadership in exile, Mian Aslam of MMA won with 40,365 votes, defeating Dr Babar Awan of PPP who got 28,775 votes. He expects that the votes of NA-48 would be divided between PML-N, JI and PTI and ultimate beneficiary would be the PPP.
The seat of Islamabad Capital Territory (NA-48) is one of those few constituencies of Pakistan where almost every political party is contesting along with many independent candidates, except Pakistan Muslim League-Q because of seat adjustment with the PPP.
An outsider, former PML-N leader Javed Hashmi is contesting elections from here on PTI party ticket. Hashmi has strong support in many small villages where Peer Sahib of Golra Shreef and Khans have influence and they play an important role in the politics of this area. He is occasionally seen in some corner meetings in different sectors of Islamabad. Being an outsider Hashmi's election campaign is very limited though Imran's supporters are running PTI's election campaign voluntarily. Everywhere in the city the PTI's banners and flags can be seen which reflect the popularity of PTI in city.
Ishaq Qureshi working in an NGO said he liked PTI but it was unfair that PTI had awarded a party ticket to Javed Hasmi who does not belong to NA-48. He would have no interest in NA-48 even after winning the seat, he said. 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.
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