VEHARI:
The political dynamics in Vehari district for the upcoming 2024 Elections reflect a stronghold of influential families, limiting space for new entrants into the political arena.
Mirroring the trend seen in other districts of South Punjab, familiar names from families such as Daultana, Khichi, Khakwani, Minhis, Bhabha, Syed, Arain, and Jatt continue to wield substantial influence, leaving approximately 90% of potentially strong candidates affiliated with these influential clans.
Local political analysts, including Mehr Ejaz Ahmed, Nadeem Mushtaq, and Asghar Comrade, highlighted the prevalence of hereditary politics as known names resurface in the electoral landscape.
Chaudhry Nazir Ahmed Arain, brother of former MNA Chaudhry Faqir Ahmed Arain, seeks to reclaim his position in Vehari 1 (NA 156) Burewala.
Dr Ayesha, daughter of ex-MNA Nazir Jutt, is also contesting from the same constituency, while her sister Dr Arifa Nazir Jatt aims for the provincial assembly seat PP 229.
Adding another layer to the dynastic narrative, former MPA Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood Chauhan, son of former MNA Chaudhry Qurban Ali Chauhan, steps in as an independent candidate.
Read A political dynasty’s quiet exit
In NA-157 (Vehari-II), ex-MNA Syed Sajid Mehdi Saleem, brother of Syed Shahid Mehdi Naseem Shah, is contesting on a PML-N ticket. Meanwhile, Syed Salman Mehdi Shah, nephew of Syed Sajid Mehdi Shah, is an independent candidate for a provincial assembly seat.
From the Daultana family, Tehmina Daultana and her son Mian Irfan Daultana are actively campaigning in NA 158 and PP 230, respectively. Independent candidates, such as Bilal Akbar Ali Bhatti (son of the late former MNA Akbar Ali Bhatti) and Nawab Shahr Yar Khan Khakwani (on the PPP ticket), also contribute to the political landscape.
Bilal Akbar Ali Bhatti, son of the late former MNA Akbar Ali Bhatti, is another independent candidate.
The influence of hereditary politics extends to NA-158 (Vehari-III), where Tehmina Daultana, Tahir Iqbal Chaudhary, and Aftab Khan Khakwani are vying for electoral success.
Read Sindh’s dynastic politics plague to continue
Mian Saqib Khursheed, son of Mian Khursheed from the Araen family, is a potential candidate in PP 233. In NA-159 (Vehari-IV), former Speaker Punjab Assembly Saeed Ahmad Khan Minhas secures a PML-N ticket, with his son Asif Saeed Minhas contesting as a provincial candidate (PP 235).
The Khichi family also prominently features, with former MNA Dilawar Khan Khichi’s son Aurangzeb Khichi entering the political field for Elections 2024. Jahanzeb Khan Khichi, a former provincial minister, is an independent candidate in PP 236.
The tradition of hereditary politics persists as Mian Khaliq Nawaz, brother of former MPA Mian Majid Nawaz Arain, is a potential candidate in the same provincial constituency (PP 236).
The son of former MNA Irshad Ahmad Khan, Mehmood Hayat Tochi Khan from the Pathan Community, is also contesting to regain his ancestral seat in NA-159.
As these familiar names resurface in Vehari’s political landscape, hereditary politics continues to shape the electoral scenario for the upcoming elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2024.
