LAKKI MARWAT: As many as 77 candidates have been left in the election race for one seat of National Assembly and three seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the district after withdrawal of 21 candidates.

Of the 28 candidates for NA-36, Lakki Marwat, nine withdrew their nominations, leaving 19 to contest polls for the sole NA seat. Prominent among those who withdrewnominations for NA-36 include PTI’s former MNA retired Col Ameerullah, JUI-F leader Mufti Ameer Nawaz and JI’s Azizullah.

A neck and neck contest is expected between PTI candidate Ishfaq Ahmad and MMA candidate Maulana Mohammad Anwar for NA-36.

Tough contest likely between MMA and PTI candidates

After withdrawal of nominations 17 candidates are now in the running for PK-91 comprising the areas of Lakki city, Kurram Par and union councils located in the east and south of the district. MMA’s Munawar Khan, former bureaucrat Akhtar Munir, who is contesting as an independent, and PTI candidate Johar Mohammad Khan are said to be main contenders for PK-91.

As many as 20 candidates have been left in the field for provincial assembly seat of PK-92 where MMA’s Noor Saleem Khan and PTI’s Hisham Inamullah are considered as strong candidates.

Also, 21 candidates will contest the polls for PK-93, the constituency comprising major areas of Naurang city, Mammakhel, Serai Gambila, Baistkhel, Kot Kashmir and Takhtikhel.

MMA’s Anwar Hayat, former MPA Zafrullah Khan, advocate Sadruddin of ANP and PTI’s Tariq Saeed are in the arena for PK-93.

SUPPORT SOUGHT: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s brother Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman has held a meeting with the spiritual leader of Zakori family, Pir Mohammad Fawad Raza Zakori, in DI Khan in a bid to persuade him for extending his support to the MMA candidates contesting elections for one seat of the National Assembly and three seats of provincial assembly in Lakki Marwat district, sources said.

They said that the JUI-F chief had tasked Maulana Attaur Rehman to meet Pir Fawad for seeking his support for the alliance candidates in Lakki district.

The sources said that the Zakori family had a great political influence in PK-92 and PK-93 constituencies of Lakki Marwat. However, it has been learnt that Mr Zakori has told different delegations that he would take a decision about supporting any party or alliance after holding consultation with his followers in the district.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2018