By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: As the nation gears up for Thursday’s general elections, the political arena is set ablaze with high-stakes contests featuring heavyweights from various parties. A total of 266 national and 593 provincial assembly seats are in play, capturing the attention of the public and political enthusiasts alike.
In NA-130, Lahore, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is contesting against PTI-backed Dr Yasmin Rashid. In NA-10, Buner, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan is contesting against JI’s Sher Akbar Khan. In NA-44, Dera Ismail Khan, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman standing against PTI-backed Ali Amin Gandapur and PPP former National Assembly deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi.
In NA-127, Lahore, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari faces PML-N’s Atta Tarar and PTI-backed Abbas Khokhar while in NA-6, Lower Dir, JI’s Ameer Sirajul Haq is competing against PTI-backed Bashir Khan. The NA-264, Quetta, will witness a contest between BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal and PPP’s Mir Jamal Khan Raisani. People in NA-266, Killa Abdullah-cum-Chaman, would either be choosing PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai or JUI-F’s Maulana Salahuddin. In NA-248, Karachi, MQM-P Rabita Committee Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui is contesting against PTI-backed Arsalan Khalid. In NA-24, Charsadda, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao faces PTI-backed Anwar Taj. In NA-149, Multan, IPP Patron Jahangir Tareen faces PTI-backed Aamir Dogar.
The NA-253, Ziarat-cum-Harnai-cum-Sibbi-cum-Kohlu-cum-Dera Bugti, JWP chief Shahzain Bugti is facing PML-N’s Mir Dostain Domki. NA-33, Nowshera, PTI-Parliamentarian chief and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak is facing PTI-backed Shah Wahid Ali Shah and independent candidate Akhtar Wali Khan.
In NA-56, Rawalpindi, Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rasheed is contesting against PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi while in NA-207, Nawabshah, former president Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP is challenged by PTI-backed Sher Muhammad Baloch.
In NA-123, Lahore, former PM Shehbaz Sharif of the PML-N is contesting against Liaquat Baloch of the JI and PTI-backed Afzal Azim. In NA-48, Multan, former PM Yousuf Raza Gilani of the PPP is facing PML-N’s Ahmed Hasan Dehar.
The NA-119, Lahore, will witness PML-N Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz contest against PTI-backed Shahzad Farooq. In NA-118, Lahore, former Punjab CM Hamza Shehbaz is contesting against PTI-backed Alia Hamza, who is currently in jail.
The NA-117, Lahore, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan is competing against PTI-backed Ali Ijaz Butar while in NA-241, Karachi, MQM-P’s Dr Farooq Sattar is contesting against PTI-backed Khurram Sher Zaman. People in NA-71, Sialkot, PML-N’s Khawaja Asif faces PTI-backed Rehana Dar, mother of Usman Dar.
The NA-19, Swabi, will see former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser competing against ANP’s Khanzada Shahnawaz. In NA-54, Rawalpindi, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is competing against Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the joint candidate of the IPP and the PML-N. In NA-122, Lahore, ex-railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq of the PML-N is standing against former governor and PTI-backed Sardar Latif Khosa.
In NA-246, Karachi, former IT minister Syed Aminul Haque of the MQM-P is contesting against JI Karachi Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. In NA-100, Faisalabad, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah of the PML-N is contesting against PTI-backed Samira Nisar Jat. NA-11, Shangla, will see PML-N’s Engineer Amir Maqam contesting against PTI-backed Dr Amjad while NA-18, Haripur, will witness PTI secretary general Omar Ayub Khan’s contest against Babar Nawaz Khan of the PML-N.
