The Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad is all set to show his strength at Liaqat Bagh on Thursday (today), as tough competition is expected between him and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Malik Shakil Awan in NA-55, Rawalpindi.
Sheikh Rashid, who has seat adjustment with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, was scheduled to join Imran Khan to show their strength, but the later is unable to address the rally after getting injured in an unfortunate incident in Lahore during election rally.
Though Malik Shakil Awan won from the constituency in bye-polls in 2010 on PML-N ticket with a big margin by securing 63,888 votes while Sheikh Rashid Ahmad got 42,000 votes but this time around a tough contest is expected between the two. NA-55 is the home constituency of Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, but he faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of PML-N candidates Makhdoom Javed Hashmi (the then PML-N leader) in 2008. PML-N is unlikely to have an easy sail this time, as PTI is fully supporting Sheikh Rashid.
In 2008 general elections, PML-N's Javed Hashmi won from the constituency by securing 76,980 votes while PPP's Malik Aamer Fida Paracha was the runner up who bagged 37,397 votes and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad who contested on PML-Q ticket remained third by securing 15,780 votes. Hashmi who had won from four different constituencies vacated the seat and PML-N's Haji Pervaiz Khan clinched the seat with 25,237 votes in the bye-elections in which Sheikh Rashid did not participate.
In 2002 general elections, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad who contested as an independent candidate, won from the constituency by securing 40649 votes while Sardar Muhammad Tariq of PML-N was the runner up who bagged 14,405 votes and Agha Riaz-ul-Islam of PPP got 2,885 votes.
However, this time around the situation is completely different with both PTI and JI taking active part in the upcoming general elections. Jamaat-i-Islami Mohammad Hanif Chaudhry, PPP 's Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad and lawyers' movement leader Ali Ahmed Kurd [independent] are also in the race. The survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed that the real battle would be between PML-N Shakeel Awan and AML chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.
In 2010 bye-polls, PPP was supporting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad against the PML-N, while this time around PPP's Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad is also in the run the from constituency. However, Sheikh Rashid will enjoy PTI support. PML-N, which benefited due to JI's boycott, is, however, will be without the edge as JI's Hanif Chaudhry is also in the run.
NA-55 comprises two provincial seats including PP-11 and PP-12. Both the seats were won by PML-N in 2008 general elections. On PP-11, PML-N's former MPA Ziaullah Shah will face PPP's Khalid Nawaz Bhobi, JI's Syed Kalim Gilani and PTI's Raja Rashid Hafeez. However, the PML-N candidate is considered to be strong. From PP-12, PML-N has fielded its Rawalpindi chapter president Sardar Nasim who will face PPP's Babar Khan Jadoon, PTI's Ejaz Khan Jazzi and JI's Mohammad Hanif Chaudhry. However, the real battle is expected between PML-N and PTI in the constituency.