The Pakistani Spectator

Lahore is considered as the ‘Garrh’ of PML-N, the part of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it’s least developed constituency is NA-118, which is consists of areas on both sides of River Ravi, having areas like Shahdara town, Badami Bagh, Fruit Mundi and many small villages.

The literacy rate in this constituency is very low, and the plight of health, roads, employment, infrastructure and other issues of life is very dismal. NA-118, though mainly consists of backward areas having some villages, but even then majority of voters do not go for the biradari system, rather they vote for the party.

This constituency has elected the likes of Nawaz Sharif, Humayyun Akhtar Khan, Abbass Sharif, Mian Azhar and Salman Butt. In the Election 2008, in NA-118, the real contest is between Mian Azhar of PML-Q and Malik Riaz of PML-N. Malik Riaz is old companion of Nawaz Sharif and is the senior vice president of PML-N Lahore.

Whereas Mian Azhar is the former chief minister of Punjab and draws a considerable support from the area. Mian Azhar’s personality is very famous as he defected from Nawaz Sharif and is the real founder of PML-Q, though he was then ousted by Chaudharies of Gujrat. Mian Azhar left PML-Q and has been brought back in the party with much ado by the the invisible hands.

Though PML-N seemingly has a slight edge over PML-Q in this area, but an interesting contest is in the offing.