PESHAWAR, May 3: An unusually large number of independent candidates contesting the upcoming elections may hold the key in what looks like a hung assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A total of 571 independent candidates including some prominent electables and 867 nominees of political parties are trying their luck for 99 general seats of the provincial assembly.

Many independent candidates have struck deals with political parties that in case of winning the elections they would put their weight behind the parties which did not field candidates against them to form the next government.

Like the past, a handful of independents are expected to win polls and their support would be very important in changing the political discourse because the majority party in the new provincial assembly would have to depend on them for forming the government.

In the previous general elections, 22 non-party members had won elections of which 15 MPAs joined the coalition government, comprising Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party. The rest of seven independent MPAs formed their own parliamentary group and they also got portfolios.

The independent MPAs, who were given important portfolios in the cabinet, either joined other parties for completion of their tenure or opted to contest the elections as independents again.

Former minister for higher education Qazi Mohammad Asad Khan had won as an independent in 2008 elections and joined ANP. After the completion of tenure he switched over to Pakistan Muslim League-N. Minister for prisons Mian Nisar Gul also said goodbye to ANP.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, which is aspiring for a landslide victory in the province, has already struck deals with some electables and not fielded candidates against three independent contestants. Akram Khan Durrani, JUI-F parliamentary leader in the previous assembly, said that his party had agreement with Israrullah Khan Gandapur, Sameeullah Alizai and Javid Akbar, who are contesting elections from southern districts.

“JUI-F position is very strong and will secure 45 to 50 general seats in the provincial assembly,” he said with confidence. Despite that he said his party would accommodate Qaumi Watan Party and likeminded non-party members in future setup in the province.

Former MPA Israrullah Khan, son of ex-chief minister Sardar Inayatullah Khan Gandapur has quit Qaumi Watan Party of Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and is contesting from PK-67, his home constituency, as independent.

Former provincial minister Sameeullah Alizai whose uncle and father were diehard PPP workers in Dera Ismail Khan had also said goodbye to the party and he is contesting polls as independent from PK-65. Former provincial minister Javid Akbar, who is in the race for PK-68, Paharpur, has also made a deal with JUI-F.

JUI-F and QWP have also entered seat adjustment in 16 constituencies of the provincial assembly in four districts, including Charsadda, Swabi, Swat and Buner. Akram Khan Durrani said that QWP would be given top priority if JUI-F won the required number of seats in elections to form the government. But he does not see any significant role of independents in the future setup in KP. However QWP provincial president Sikandar Khan Sherpao said that independents would play pivotal role in forming the next government, because no party could get clear majority. He said that any big party could not win more than 20 seats in the provincial assembly and majority party would depend upon independents and small parties.

“We are anticipating a hung assembly,” he maintained. “At least 15 independent candidates can win their seats and their role will be very important,” said Sikandar Sherpao, who is contesting from PK-21.

Some prominent independent contestants have chances to win against the parties’ candidates in Swabi, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Karak and Kohistan. Habibur Rehman Tanoli from PK-57, Babar Salim Swati and Sardar Zahoor are main contestants from PK-53 while former minister Shahzada Gustasip is a strong candidate from PK-55. Mian Nisar Gul, who was minister for prisons in previous coalition government, has also chances to retain his position from Karak.

Another independent candidate from Patan, Kohistan District Haji Abdul Haq’s position is very strong against other parties’ candidates after local elders and Ulema formed Patan Qaumi Mahaz and endorsed his candidature. Awami Jamhoori Itehad Pakistan, a local electoral alliance headed by Taraki family is also proving potential challenger for ANP in Swabi.

Former MPA Israrullah Gandapur was of the view that no party could get overwhelming majority in KP and which ever party got the majority seats in the assembly would have to rely on non party members to form government. He is expecting three different combinations in the new assembly that would comprise JUI-F-PML-N, JI-PTI and ANP-PPP and one of them would require support of independents and other small parties.