The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finalised all necessary arrangements for the by-elections being held on Saturday (today) for five seats of National Assembly and two seats of Punjab Provincial Assembly The by-elections on the National Assembly constituencies are being held in NA-140 (Kasur), NA-148 (Multan-I), NA-149 (Multan-II), NA-168 (Vehari) and NA-195 (Rahim Yar Khan).
In the two Punjab Assembly constituencies, by-elections are being held in PP-18 (Attock) and PP-44 (Mianwali). In the wake of country's current political situation, traditional enthusiasm is not being witnessed in these constituencies. The expected results of these elections are not going to affect the existing numerical strength of any of the political parties in the assemblies.
In NA-148, PPP has fielded Ali Musa Gilani, son of PM Yousuf Raza Gilani against Abdul Ghaffar Dogar of PML-N. This seat was vacated by Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi after he joined PTI. Since the PML-Q and PTI have not fielded their candidates, one-on-one contest is expected between the PPP and PML-N candidates.
Musa Gilani is considered a serious contender with edge over his rival candidate. In NA-149, strong contest is between PPP's Malik Liaquat Dogar and PML-N's Tariq Rasheed. The PML-N candidate has edge over the rival candidate in this constituency. Rasheed is ex-mayor of Multan and brother of Sheikh Tahir Rashid, ex-MNA of PML-N who later joined PML-Q and of late he has joined PTI. Most of the past electoral battles in this constituency have been won by PML-N candidates. The seat fell vacant due to the resignation of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi.
In NA-168, Natasha Daultana of PPP considered strong candidate. This seat was vacated after death of Azeem Daultana in a road accident last month. Late Azeem Daultana had won this seat in 2008 elections with big margin by defeating Tehmina Daultana of PML-N.
In NA-195 (Rahim Yar Khan), all political parties have left the field open for Makhdoom Murtaza Mehmood, the son of PML-F's Punjab President, Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood. He is contesting on PML-F ticket. This seat was vacated after Jahangir Tarin who joined the PTI. PML-N is supporting Makhdoom Murtaza Mehmood and he is all set to win on this constituency.
In NA-140 (Kasur-III), tough contest is expected among three candidates, ie Sardar Sarwar Dogar of PPP, Malik Rashid (independent) and Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi (independent). This seat was vacated by Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali of PPP after he joined PTI. Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali group, now led by Sardar Haroon, the younger brother of Sardar Assef, is supporting the PPP candidate.
PML-N had earlier awarded ticket to Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi but later decided not to give its electoral symbol to any of the candidates after Rashid also presented his case for the party ticket. Malik Rashid, who recently joined PML-N quitting PML-Q, had been elected to the Punjab Assembly twice from this constituency in the past. The PML-N is expected to retain the provincial seat from Mianwali (PP-44) which fell vacant due to death of Aamir Hayat Khan Rokhri. Only independent candidates are in the run from this constituency.
In PP-18 (Attock), three candidates, PML-N's Malik Azam, PPP's Malik Sameen Khan and an independent candidate Malik Amanat are in the run to capture the seat vacated by Khurrum Ali Khan who joine PTI. Tough contest is expected on this seat. According to political observers, the only significance of these by-polls is maintaining support base in these constituencies by the PML-N and PPP.