Talking to TFT, a senior official at Punjab’s home department said that security concerns were raised by commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan, following which the Punjab government has requested the ECP to postpone the elections.
The ECP in its decision said that all the arrangements have been made and the elections would be held at scheduled time. “On polling day 200 officials of rangers would be performing their duty as well,” an ECP official said. On the directions of ECP, the district returning officer, deputy commissioner, police, Rangers and Pakistan Army officials would be present in the district control room during the polling process.
There are 206,495 registered male voters and 172,709 female registered voters (379,204 in total) in the constituency who would be eligible to cast their votes.
There are 80 polling stations for males, 77 polling stations for females, and 80 combined polling stations, totaling 237. 711 polling booths are segregated into 400 male polling booths and 311 female polling booths.
The constituency comprises municipal committee Jampur, town committee (Dajal old), Kot Janun, Dajel, Kotla Muglan, Muhammad Pur and other areas, excluding the Chak Kuraywala, Bulewalal, and Dura Rindan patwar circles.
This constituency fell vacant after the death of seasoned parliamentarian Sardar Jaffar Khan Leghari who breathed his last aged 81 years on December 31, 2022.
In Sunday’s by-polls, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has fielded former provincial finance minister Sardar Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, while Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) has awarded party ticket to Ammar Ahmed Khan Leghari, who is nephew of Mohsin Leghari. Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has awarded the party ticket to Akhtar Hassan Khan Gorchani.
'Jaffar Leghari won this constituency a record five times'
It is pertinent to mention that since 1997, Jaffar Leghari emerged victorious from this constituency on the ticket of different political parties. He served as an MNA from this constituency between 1997-1999.
In 2002 general elections, he was elected from this constituency (previously NA-174 Rajanpur-I) by securing 59,783 votes on the ticket of National Alliance by defeating Gorish Khan Gorchani, who belongs to another influential Gorchani tribe, and was the candidate of PMLN.
In 2008 general elections, he was re-elected as an MNA for the third consecutive term from this constituency, this time on the ticket of PMLQ by grabbing 50,440 votes and defeating another established tribal politician Sardar Nasrullah Dareshak, who had managed to secure 40,049 votes.
In the 2013 general elections, Leghari was re-elected for the fourth consecutive term on PMLN’s ticket by securing 100,794 votes, against Dareshak who had managed to secure 61,204 as an independent candidate. Dreshak had faced defeat at the hands of Leghari for a second time.
In May 2018, Leghari joined PTI and had managed to clinch this seat for record fifth time by grabbing 81,358 votes, against PMLN's Sardar Sher Ali Khan Gorchani who stood second by securing 46,748 votes. PPP’s Shazia Abid also secured 27,183 votes.
PTI fielded Leghari political scion
Interestingly, the PTI Chairman initially decided to contest this seat on his own, but later withdrew his nomination papers in favour of Sardar Mohsin Leghari, PTI's finance minister in Punjab. “Apparently, on account of fears of disqualification in the Tyrian White case, Khan withdrew his nomination,” political insiders from PTI told TFT.
Political pundits were of the opinion that seeing the popularity graph of PTI and Imran Khan, along with the history of this constituency, Mohsin has an edge over his political opponents Ammar Leghari and Akhtar Hassan Gorchani.
“Mohsin Leghari, the nephew of Jaffar Leghari, has been declared his political successor on January 2 at his Qul, and Sardar Nasrullah Dareshak performed the dastar bandi while his other nephews — sons of Farooq Leghari, Jamal and Awais — silently left the gathering, clearly indicating that they did not endorse it.
“Keeping in mind the history of this constituency, and after Mohsin Leghari is declared his political heir, he is likely to emerge as a winner from this constituency,” one of the tribal elders told TFT.
In an exclusive conversation with this scribe, Mohsin Leghari said that, "after watching the enthusiasm of the people of the constituency, and the way they stand with Imran Khan’s principled stance, it seems that I would be able to secure this seat with a comprehensive margin".
“I have been contesting elections since last 20 years, and I haven’t seen such enthusiasm and energy among the voters,” Leghari noted. He also alleged that state machinery was being used by DPOs, ACs and DCs who were asking people to change loyalties and vote for PMLN instead of PTI.
He further alleged that a number of his supporters who were very active were being "picked up" by DPOs and other concerned officials just ahead of elections.
Ammar Leghari could give tough time to 'uncle Mohsin'
Political pundits from the constituency, who have been closely witnessing its tribal politics for decades, told TFT that Ammar Leghari is likely to give tough time to his uncle.
“Ammar is a young, well-educated man who completed his LLB from the prestigious University of Sussex in 2019. The decision to field Ammar Leghari against Imran Khan is due to his work for the agriculture sector and public welfare in Dera Ghazi Khan,” sources from PMLN said. Ammar introduced modern, innovative and eco-friendly trends in Dera Ghazi Khan’s agriculture sector, due to which the farmers and the agriculture sector benefited. So he enjoys a degree of support from local farmers as well as influential tribes.
“It will be tough for Ammar to defeat his uncle in this constituency where he is an old politician and remained provincial minister in PTI’s tenure. But with the help of his other uncle and father, he could surprise his uncle Mohsin.”
Interestingly, political pundits also noted that along with Mohsin Leghari, Ammar Leghari is using the Jaffar Leghari picture in his political campaign, since he too belongs to the same family.
PPP’s Akhtar Hassan Gorchani could emerge as ‘dark horse’
Political insiders from the constituency said that former president Asif Ali Zardari, in consultation with PPP’s south Punjab president Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmud, very prudently fielded an awesome candidate in the shape of Akhtar Hassan Gorchani, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) who also served as director general of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and is 'very much aware' of electioneering politics.
“He has clean credentials and also enjoys the support of influential local tribes which could surprise his opponents on election day,” a local voter said.
Gorchani is very prudently putting the blame on PTI and PMLN for the country's political crisis. He said that the main reason for Pakistan's economic crisis is political instability, which has been caused by the confrontation between PTI and PMLN for the past two to four years.
“In this fight of bulls, the economy has come to a standstill. Dollar and petrol are going to touch 300 rupees. Essential goods are beyond the reach of the common man,” he noted, while adding that "the truth is we are now ashamed to ask for votes from the people. People are fed up with their lives, so how will they listen to the candidates?" he concluded.
‘Gorchani, Khosa and Dareshak tribes will play decisive role’
Sources added that all the influential political tribes are planning to benefit from the vacuum created after the demise of Jaffar Leghari.
They maintained that former President Farooq Leghari, sons who are also Jaffar’s nephews they are in PMLN. While his other nephew and political heir is in PTI and they are not the only ones who are trying to fill in the gap the other influential tribes are also pulling up their muscles be it Khosa, Dareshak and Gorchani leaders.
“The votes and support of these influential tribes would play a decisive role in this constituency,” they concluded.
Political insiders said that Mohsin Leghari currently enjoys the support of the Dareshak tribe led by Sardar Nasrullah Dareshak and his son Sardar Husnain Bahadur Dareshak while the votes of other influential tribes including Khosa and Gorchani are likely to be divided between PMLN and PPP.