BAJAUR: Canvassing has gained momentum in Bajaur tribal district as the weather becomes less severe and election date draws near.

All the mainstream political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Pakistan-Tahreek-i-Insaf and Awami National Party have launched their election campaign for the district’s lone National Assembly and four provincial assembly seats.

There is great enthusiasm among the candidates for the conning elections as it is the first time in the region’s history that the polling for the NA and PA seats will be held simultaneously on Feb 8 after the former Fata got representation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly following its merger with the province.

The first-ever elections for the provincial assembly seats in the merged districts were held on July 18, 2019 a year after the July 25, 2018 general elections when Bajaur had two NA seats, which have now been decreased to one after the 2023 delimitations of constituencies.

Political observers and parties expect the campaign to get further impetus with the passage of time.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s final list of nominees, a total 59 aspirants are taking part in the election in Bajaur.

Eight candidates are in the contest for NA-8, including four former lawmakers Shahauddin Khan Salarzai of PML-N, Sayed Akhunzada Chattan of PPP, Sahibzada Haroon Rasheed of JI and PTI-backed Gul Zafar Khan.

Former governor Shaukatullah Khan, who is elder brother of Senator Hadyatullah Khan, is running for NA constituency as an independent.

Similarly, 51 candidates are contesting for the district’s four PA seats, which were three in the 2019 elections.

On PK-19, seven are in the race, with the prominent ones including Malik Mohammad Ayaz Khan of JI, Malik Hikmatullah Khan Mamond, PTI-backed Dr Hamidur Rahman and Malik Khalid Khan, an independent.

For PK-20, 11 candidates are in the fray. Former provincial minister and PTI-backed Anwarzeb Khan, Maulana Waheed Gul of JI, PML-N provincial leader and former MNA Shahabuddin Khan, JUI-F’s Maulana Abdur Rasheed, PPP’s former MNA Akhunzada Chattan and ANP district president Gul Afzal are the prominent among the contestants.

PK-21 would see 18 candidates trying their luck. Haji Sardar Khan of JI, Rasheed Khan of ANP, PTI-backed Eng Ajmal Khan (former MPA) and PPP’s Shakeel Khan are considered the favourites.

According to the ECP list, there are 15 aspirants for PK-22. Haji Sirajuddin Khan of JI, ANP’s Shah Naseer Khan, JUI-F’s Mohammad Imran Mahir and PTI nominee Gul Dad Khan (former MNA) are being touted as favourites on this seat.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2024

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