District Jhang and its adjoining areas has very interesting political situation. Jhang is one of most underdeveloped and poor districts of Punjab despite the fact that many political heavy weights like Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Syeda Abida Hussein and Nawab Amanullah Sial has represented this district in power corridors. District Jhang is also center point of sectarian divide between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Banned outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) was founded in this city and still a stronghold of Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamat (ASWJ) which is new name of SSP.
NA-89 Jhang-IV consists mainly on urban areas which includes Jhang Saddar, Satellite town, Jhang City and adjacent clusters. Sheikh and Ansari are two powerful casts having large number of votes.
Political History of NA-89 Jhang
Leaders of Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) has represented NA-89 Jhang in parliament for well over a decade. Maulana Esar-ul-Qasmi was the first leader to reach the parliament in 1990 elections. However, he was assassinated during by-election in Jhang. He was succeeded by Maulana Azam Tariq who surprised everyone by defeating Sheikh Yousaf, a political heavyweight of that time. Maulana Azam Tariq won National Assembly seat thrice and provincial assembly seats four times. He was only defeated by Nawab Amanullah Sial of PML-N in 1996 elections. However, he was a returned candidate on provincial assembly seat as a result of recounting.
NA 89 Jhang 2002 Election Result:
Maulana Azam Tariq, Chief of Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) was very popular in the constituency and almost unchallengeable. In 2002, he contested elections as an independent candidate from jail and regained the seat which he lost in 1996 despite difficult situation. In 2002, Sheikh-ul-Islam Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri, who hails from Jhang also contested from Jhang. He is main aspiration for majority Bralevi population of the area and bagged over 31483 votes. Third main contestant was Sheikh Waqas Akram of National Alliance.
Maulana Azam Tariq returned to National Assembly after obtaining 41,425 votes. Below is a summary of 2002 election results.
Name of Candidate
Party Obtained Votes StatusMaulana Muhammad Azam Tariq Independent 41425 Returned
Dr Muhammad Tahir Ul Qadri PAT 31483
Sheikh Waqas Akram National Alliance 31959
Makhdoom Syed Asad Hayat PPP 1079
Muhammad Anwar Cheema MMA 969
Abdul Qudos Awan PTI 197
Above results shows that mainstream political parties like Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PML-N has very weak standing in the constituency and top two contenders obtained votes based on their religious beliefs further divided into sects. Sheikh Waqas Akram stood third but he obtained considerable number of votes based on his cast.
Assassination of Maulana Azam Tariq
Maulana Azam Tariq suddenly became very important during government formation process after 2002 election. His deciding vote helped Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali become premier of the country. Almost one year into the government Maulana Azam Tariq was assassinated Golra MOR Islamabad while he was proceeding towards National Assembly to participate in the session.
NA-89 Jhang: By-elections
Assassination of Maulana Azam Tariq warranted by-election in NA-89 Jhang-IV. Millat-i-Islamia Pakistan, Party of deceased leader decided to boycott the polls. However, Maulana Alam Tariq, younger brother of slain Maulana Azam Tariq decided to contest elections without support of Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) against Sheikh Waqas Akram of PML-Q. Sheikh Waqas Akram reached National Assembly for the first time after a tough contest.
NA 89 Jhang: 2008 Election Result:
Old contenders Sheikh Waqas Akram and Chief of defunct SSP was once again head to head in 2008 general elections. Sheikh Waqas Akram managed to retain his seat after obtaining 51,976 votes. Below is election results summary of 2008 elections
Name of Candidate Party Obtained Votes Status
Sheikh Waqas Akram PML-Q 51956 Returned
Maulana Ahmad Ludhyanvi Independent 45216
Dr Abu Ul Hasan Ansari PML-N 15743
Sheikh Hakim Ali Independent 1095
Maulana Abdu-ul-Ghafoor Jhangvi Independent 908
NA 89 Jhang: Party Position 2013 Election:
NA-89 Jhang is once again presenting a very different and interesting situation in 2013 elections. Former Minister for education Sheikh Waqas Akram resigned from PML-Q and decided to join Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He was warmly greeted in PML-N as their political standing is very weak in NA-89 and Sheikh Waqas Akram could boost PML-N in NA-89. However, nomination papers of Sheikh Waqas Akram has been rejected due to forged degree issue. University of Cambridge has declared that his A-level certificate could not be verified from university records. Similarly, higher education commission (HEC) has declared his bachelor’s degree as fake.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and ASWJ enjoyed an unannounced partnership throughout past five years. Partnership between the two began in 2008 elections when ASWJ asked its candidate from Bhakkar to facilitate Mian Shahbaz Sharif get elected unopposed. ASWJ also supported PML-N candidates in by-elections in Jhang.
Warm welcome of Sheikh Waqas Akram in PML-N has fumigated ASWJ chief Ahmed Ludhyanvi who announced to oppose PML-N at each level. Disqualification of Sheikh Waqas Akram will be a major setback for PML-N in NA-89 Jhang-IV. Maulana Ahmad Ludhyanvi enjoys a great public support in NA 89 and is quite hopeful to become the returned candidate.
PTI position in NA-89 Jhang
In 2008 election Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had no political standing in the constituency as its candidate obtained only 197 votes and party boycotted 2008 elections. However, situation has changed much for PTI as well in NA-89 Jhang-IV for 2013 elections. Dr Abu Ul Hasan Ansari, who bagged over 15000 votes in 2008 elections and former MNA Nawab Amanullah Sial has joined PTI. Apart from these two Sheikh Arfa Majeed is another die hard PTI worker who is working really hard in the constituency and could be a great selection for PTI ticket in NA 89 Jhang.
Jamat-i-Islami JI has also fielded Dr Abdul Jabbar as its candidate from NA 89 Jhang.
Election Results Prediction
Above analysis shows that ASWJ has almost 45000 consistent vote which is always casted in their favor. Their voters vote for them because of their religious believes rather than anything else and are not influenced by any other factor. On the other hand, PTI has improved its voter base and is expected to divide votes of Sheikh and Ansari cast which will definitely benefit Maulana Ahmed Ludhyanvi. Our prediction is that Maulana Ahmed Ludhyanvi will be a returned candidate from this constituency if he gets through to voting day.
