KOHAT: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidates are going to get a big boost as the party chairman, Imran Khan, is scheduled to visit Kohat on May 21 to address a public meeting here.

Political observers say that the visit of Imran Khan can also win over the sympathies of independents, who being denied tickets by their parties are contesting the polls. They claim that many of the independents are expected to join the party soon.

Tough contest is expected in all the six urban constituencies of Kohat among independents, PTI candidates and tripartite alliance ticket holders.

In Urban-I, the position of PTI candidate Jehanzeb Jani is relatively stronger than the other contestants because the young voters also support him. His main rival is independent Abid for the district council. For the tehsil council, Mohammad Javed would face Sajid Awan of Awami National Party. Abid and Javed are being supported by the tripartite alliance of PPP, ANP and JUI-F.

In Urban-2, former union council nazim Malik Iqbal has defected from PML-N and joined PTI to get the ticket for district council. He will be facing a tough challenge from Fida Afridi, the brother of MNA Shehryar Afridi of PTI. Fida decided to contest the polls for district council as an independent candidate after PTI refused to give him the ticket. In the tehsil polls, Malik Faheem of PTI will face Malik Taimoor of PML-N.

Party chairman due on May 21 as electioneering gains momentum

In Urban-3, former union council nazim Mir Zaman Shinwari will face Karamat Shah of PTI as independent candidate for the district council.

In Urban-4, Pir Yousuf who was earlier in PPP had now decided to contest as an independent candidate against Waheed Hayat of PTI. His uncle Pir Adil Shah would contest the polls as an independent candidate for the tehsil council.

In Urban-5 constituency, former UC nazim Dr Matiullah Shah of JUI-F will contest the elections for district council against former PTI district president tailor master Hamayun Chacha. For tehsil council, independent candidate Mohammad Amir and Ishtiaq Qureshi are the main contenders.

In Urban-6, elections to the district council have been cancelled after the death of Mohammad Farooq of tripartite alliance. However, elections to the tehsil council would be held as scheduled.

There are many candidates, both old and new, in the arena to contest the May 30 local body elections from different constituencies of the district. Women candidates are also actively canvassing.

As there is a ban on public meetings, candidates turn to mosques and seminaries after sunset as part of election campaigns. They discuss things from politics to economy to security to social problems, especially those related to the area, over tea until late at night.

According to political observers, PTI appears to be in stronger position against the five-party opposition alliance consisting of PPP, JUI-F, ANP, PML-N and JUI-S in most constituencies. They, however, say wealth, personality and caste will also play a crucial role in the elections.

The opposition alliance first fielded joint candidates but later its members named own candidates in several constituencies dealing a blow to the alliance.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2015

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