The election campaign is getting momentum in the southern Punjab. The situation is changing day-by-day. The seat of NA-148 of Multan is a very important constituency because two top leaders of the leading parties are taking part.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmoood Qureshi of PPP and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of PML-N. Rai Mansab Ali belonged PML-Q is the third contestant. So a tough competition is expected among these candidates.
Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has recently addressed the public meeting in Qadir Pur Raan to support Rai Mansab Ali. Pervez Elahi severely criticised the leadership of PML-N and PPP. He said that our government has spent 31 billion rupees to improve the irrigation system of southern Punjab. Eleven percent extra budget has been given for the development projects, he added.
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Makhdoom Shah Mehmoood Qureshi are very strong candidates. Both have a very big support of their constituency with them. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi is contesting from four constituencies at a time. Shah Mehmood Qureshi is contesting only from his native constituency. Shah Mehmood has the sympathies of the people with him after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. On the other hand Javed Hashmi is trying his best to control situation in favour of him.
In NA-151 Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani is taking part and his opponent is the former federal minister for live stock and agriculture Sikandar Hayyat Bosan. Yousaf Raza Gillani was kept in jail for 3 years so he remained away from the people of his constituency, while Sikander Hayyat has spent most of his time in his constituency.
He has completed many development projects in his constituency. His position was very strong but after the incident of Rawalpindi his position becomes doubtful. Yousaf Raza has taken the advantage and speed up his election campaign due to which his position is seemed stable now.
Makhdoom Javed Hashmi is also contesting from NA-149. His position is very strong in this constituency. Former provincial minister Moin Uddin Riaz Qureshi is contesting from the same constituency. He is facing problems in this constituency because Javed Hashmi is supporting Shahid Mehmood of N-League.
Former provincial minister Rana Qasim Noon is contesting as an independent candidate from NA-153 because Q-League had not given him the party ticket this time.
If we take a look on the political situation of Multan then Shah Mehmood Qureshi from NA-148, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi from NA-149 and Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani from NA-151 are the strong candidates in these constituencies. While Sikander Hayyat Bosan, Rana Qasim Noon, Rai Mansab Ali and Moin Uddin Qureshi are facing problems due to the on-going crisis of wheat, gas, electricity and price hike.