Election 2018: Peeved Nisar, abandoning PMLN and battlegrounds of NA 59 and NA 63
Widen rift between PMLN and once its firm devotee turn ascetic critic, finally concluded
Once considered the PMLN’s heavyweight, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, at last on Monday parted ways with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) as he has decided not to contest general elections 2018 on ticket of Nawaz Sharif-led party. The widen rift between PMLN and once its firm devotee turn into ascetic critic, finally concluded into an expected end.
Chaudhary Nisar who has began his political career as an independent in 1980s, joined PMLN during General Zia’s era, and remains associated with the party till to date. He was considered one among the pillars of the PMLN and frequently supported party through all thick and thin.
Almost in every political circle, he is seen as a respectable senior echelon. He is one among those few politicians who overtly claimed to have good relationship with civil as well as military hegemony.
Nisar on multiple occasions expressed his extreme upset over the internal politics of PMLN, the alleged acquisitive puissance of Maryam Nawaz in party matters, the altering ideological standards and the new attire of PMLN politics.
In his latest blew out, Nisar announced to contest election as an independent. Disgruntled Nisar grilled over Nawaz Sharif and added that the person who opposed ‘women rule’ has handed over party to his daughter, Maryam Nawaz.
Earlier the annoyed former PMLN leader alleged that the PMLN leadership staged a ‘comical drama’ for not issuing him party ticket. He in his statement warned the ‘Jati Umrah’ to refrain from such immature act of mocking him.
Chaudhary Nisar was infuriated over the process asking the multiple times elected senior party members to appear before the parliamentary board for allocating them a party ticket.
On the other hand most of the media sources said that Nawaz Sharif was himself obstinate in allocating Nisar the party tickets to contest elections.
Chaudhary Nisar on the warpath of NA-59 and NA-63
Meanwhile, Nisar on Sunday, submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate for NA-59 (Rawalpindi) and NA-63 (Taxilla) and for two Punjab assembly’s PP-10 and PP-12.
Chaudhary Nisar probably is the only politician in the history of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Politics who remain sat in parliament throughout his political career. And the career which spans for as long as 35 years. Since 1985, he consecutively won all the eight elections and remained a part of national assembly.
He has a history of contesting elections from NA-59 and NA-63 former NA-52 and NA-53 respectively.
Particularly NA-52, now demarcated as NA-59, has an interesting past in accommodating Nisar to the National Assembly. He has been elected an MNA eight times (consecutively in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2013 general elections) from NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III).
In general election 2002, he had secured a seat in National Assembly from constituency NA-52 (Rawalpindi-III) and begged 73, 671 votes.
In general elections 2008, he contested from both his favourite constituencies and succeeded but later vacated NA-52 and retained NA-53. This time, he won with a decisive majority and successfully besought 97, 747 votes.
In 2013 elections, he contested from NA-52 and re-elected to the parliament with even more bulk. He took 133, 143 votes against his relatively weak PTI opponent Lt. (Col.) Amjad Sabir who even with manage to secure 69, 769 votes while defeated in NA-53 against his PTI nominated arch rival Ghulam Sarwar Khan with a slight margin.
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PTI, though has a soft corner for Chaudhary Nisar, but when it comes to power business, Khan tackles Khan with an iron hand. Nisar will be confronted by PTI’s robust candidate Ghulam Sarwar Khan on both fronts, again. Sarwar has also filled his nomination papers from NA-59 (Rawalpindi III) and NA-63 (Taxila).
Chaudhary Nisar bagged maximum votes in his most favorable constituency NA-59 former NA-52.
Since 2002, Nisar and Sarwar were remained each other’s opponent on the battlefields of NA59 and NA-63 formerly known as NA-52 and NA-53. Nisar was always favoured by the NA-52 whereas NA-53 pleased Ghulam Sarwar except for once in 2008 when Sarwar had contested over PMLQ ticket.
Though NA-59 is a hotspot for Chaudhary Nisar but would this battleground can easily be taken without the support of aggressive PMLN narrative and campaigning against the strong opponents such as PTI’s Ghulam Sarwar Khan and PPP’s Chaudhary Kamran Aslam, let alone as an independent against his own former party’s candidate Qamarul Islam?
Rumors escalating that Nisar will likely to join PTI, soon.
