SWABI, July 22: The support of Awami National Party has strengthened the position of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl for the August 22 by-election for NA-13, Swabi-II.

According to political analysts, electoral alliance with ANP has turned the situation in favour of JUI-F.

It is yet not clear whether partners of the ruling coalition will support Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the contest.

According to analysts, if partners of the ruling coalition make electoral alliance and decide to support the PTI candidate, it will make the by-election tough for JUI-F contestant Maulana Attaul Haq Darvaish.

They said personality of the candidate also mattered in the election.

The analysts said in case of alliance of the ruling coalition partners, only PTI, JUI-F and PML-N would be in the field.

They said PML-N was in no mood to make alliance with other parties and that its candidate was Sajjad Khan, who contested from PK-35, Swabi-V in the May 11 election.

It is the first time that ANP will support the JUI-F nominee in the region, which was considered a stronghold of the former until the last election when PTI clinched the NA-13 seat.

Under the agreement between the two parties, ANP candidate and former provincial minister Sitara Ayaz will withdraw her nomination papers in favour of JUI-F nominee Maulana Attaul Haq Darvaish.

Maulana Darvaish, who contested the 2008 election from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal platform from NA-13, stood fourth with 12,359 votes. Liaquat Ahmad Khan of PML-N was the winner.

In the 2008 election, Pervaiz Khan of ANP won from the constituency, receiving 26,603 votes.

In the May 11 election, PTI provincial president and current speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Asad Qaisar won the seat by obtaining most votes i.e. 48,416.

Maulana Darvaish, who was supported by Qaumi Watan Party under a seat adjustment with JUI-F, was the runner-up with 28,518 votes. Mohammad Sarwar Khan of ANP got 14,137 votes to claim fifth position.

Both JUI-F and ANP said their electoral alliance would help Maulana Darvaish comfortably win the by-election.

JUI-F leader Maulana Fazal Ali said candidate of his party Maulana Darvaish was very strong compared to that of PTI candidate Aqibullah Khan (Asad Qaisar’s brother).

“Maulana Darvaish has contested two elections and is very known figure in the constituency. We hope he will comfortably win the NA-13 seat after our alliance with ANP,” he said.

Former ANP district general secretary Tamraiz Khan said workers and leaders of his party would strictly follow the instructions of the leadership and canvass and vote for the JUI-F candidate.—Muqaddam Khan