Nowshera Virkan (Urdu: نوشہره وِركاں) is a town[2] and a tehsil situated to the west of the industrial city of Gujranwala, in Punjab, Pakistan. Nowshera Virkan is a hub of rice-growing villages.[3]
Nowshera Virkan Tehsil
تحصیل نوشہرہ ورکاں | |
|---|---|
Town, Tehsil | |
 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Region |  Punjab |
| District | Gujranwala |
| Government | |
| • Member National Assembly NA-84 | MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra (PML-N) |
| Population | |
• Town, Tehsil | 535,746 |
| • Urban | 49,499 |
| • Rural | 486,247 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+6 (PDT) |
| Area code | 055 |
History
editNowshera Virkan has been a center of political activities from its earliest days. It was dominated by Arain, Rajput, Jutt, Arain, and Syed families. It is located in the Gujranwala District and is one of the largest of the four tehsils (administrative divisions). It lies between three large cities: Gujranwala, Hafizabad, and Sheikhupura. The dominant surnames of the Nowshera Virkan people are from military castes, including Arain, Bhuttah, Maan, Rajput, Virk, Syed and Goraya clans.
Elections
editIjaz Khan[4] was among the known leaders of this region. He was elected four times as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from this region and was affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League (N). After his death, his son Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz was elected MNA at age 25 in 2002 from Pakistan Muslim League (Q), defeating Hamid Nasir Chattha. Later in 2008, Mudassir Qayyum Nahra, a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from PP-102[5] in 2002–2008,[6] won the seat, but was disqualified and jailed in 2010 for bearing a fake degree.[7] In the 2010 by-elections, Chaudry Tussadiq Masud Khan (Pakistan Peoples Party), a member of the Rajput clan, was elected as MNA.[8] In 2013 and 2018, Azhar Qayyum Nahra (PMLN), brother of Mudassir Nahra, won the seat, due to PMLN's overall stronghold in Gujranwala region. Bilal Ijaz contested both 2013 and 2018 elections on PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) ticket but was unsuccessful. The Nahra family is facing charges from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)[9] for bearing assets beyond income sources. In recent 2024 elections, Bilal Ijaz defeated Azhar Qayyum Nahra, on the ticket of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Towns
editNowshera Virkan Tehsil has many small Towns such as Garmula Virkan, Jago Wala New, Phamma Sraa, Tatly Aali, Nokhar, Kot Ladha, Jalhan, Bhiri Shah Rahman, Majo Chak, Karyal kalan, Mattu Bhaiky, Artali Virkan, Pirthi Pur, Mangoki Virkan, Buddha Goraya, Leel Virkan, Aulakh Bhaike, and Chandhar Kalan.
References
edit- ^ "District and Tehsil Level Population Summary With Region Breakup: Punjab" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. 2018-01-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-04-28. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
- ^ "Gujranwala | Punjab Portal". Punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
- ^ "Gujranwala, Sialkot: major trade hubs for economic growth". Blog.pakistaneconomist.com. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "8th National Assembly From 1988 to 1990: List of Members & Addresses" (PDF). Na.gov.pk. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "MNA MPA of Gujranwala Election 2002". pakinformation.com. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Punjab Assembly – Members – Members' Directory". Pap.gov.pk. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "2010 C LC 1692 [Election Tribunal, Punjab] Before Nasir Saeed Sheikh, J Ch. Bilal Ijaz – Petitioner Versus Mudassar Qayyum Nahra and 4 others – Respondents" (PDF). Sys.lhc.gov.pk. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Rajput to decide the fate of Nowshera Virkan NA-100 – Pakistan Today". Pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "NAB tightens noose around PML-N's Nahra". The Nation. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2018.