2 heavyweights emerge for NA-168 by-polls today

The Bahawalpur NA-168 by-election has transformed into a fierce contest between Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, the son of the late lawmaker, and Wali Dad Cheema, the son of former federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema. The election is slated for September 27, with sympathy for the deceased lawmaker, calls for a separate province, and PTI's decision to boycott the election shaping the political landscape.

The PPP has withdrawn its candidate, endorsing Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, while other political and religious groups have rallied behind him. The PPP leader, Syed Ali Haider Gillani, affirmed his party's support for Malik Channar via a coalition agreement. However, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan declared the party's boycott of all electoral processes, leaving Malik Channar without a party candidate in the constituency.

Despite Samiullah Chaudhry, Malik Channar's runner-up in the 2024 general elections, Wali Dad Cheema has actively courted PTI supporters and sympathizers to vote for him. He believes that PTI's boycott creates an opportunity for him to win. The PTI has issued a contradictory statement, urging their supporters to abstain from voting altogether.

The Channar family's unity and the local demand for a Seraiki province might help Malik Munir Iqbal Channar gain an edge. Meanwhile, Wali Dad Cheema and his father have consistently advocated for the restoration of Bahawalpur province, which could also bolster Channar's chances as the Cheema camp promotes the idea of restoring the Bahawalpur province.

Voters seem more concerned about local representation, political alliances, and constituency-level concerns rather than the overarching issues of provincial status.