TIMERGARA: A close contest is expected between Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Awami National Party (ANP) for the PK-95 seat in the May 7 by-election.

Since 1988, JI has won election in the constituency four times and ANP three times.

The seat was vacated by JI chief Sirajul Haq lately on election as a Senator.

In 1988 elections, JI’s Syed Sardar Alam Bacha won PK-95 seat, while ANP’s Naqeeb Ahmad Jan was the runner-up.

In 1990 polls, the seat went to Sardar Alam Bacha again with PPP’s Naqeeb Ahmad Jan being the runner-up.

The ANP didn’t contest the elections for being part of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, which left the seat for JI under an adjustment.

Jamaat chief Sirajul Haq vacated seat on election as Senator

In 1993 elections, ANP defeated JI in the constituency for the first time.

Haji Bahadar Khan of ANP was elected PK-95 MPA. The runner-up was JI’s Sardar Alam Bacha.

In 1997 polls, JI boycotted polls, so the seat was easily won by Haji Bahadar Khan of ANP. Qazi Azizul Haq of PPP was the runner-up.

In the 2002 elections, JI grabbed the seat yet again.

The winner, Sirajul Haq, contested the elections from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal platform.

In 2008, too, JI boycotted polls. The seat was won by ANP’s Haji Hidayatullah. Malik Rehmatullah of PPP was the runner-up.

Interestingly, the JI workers voted for the PPP candidate as they didn’t want ANP to win the seat.

In the 2013 elections, JI Sirajul Haq defeated ANP’s Haji Hidayatullah to claim the seat.

According to political observers, both JI and ANP have strong vote bank in the constituency and have seen close contests in the past.

They, however, say the position of JI seems to be strong as it has fielded a stronger candidate, Izazul Mulk Afkari, who is also the party’s district chief, compared to ANP’s disgruntled leader Haji Bahadar Khan.

This time around, 20 aspirants filed nomination papers for the PK-95 by-election.

However, 13 of them withdrew papers leaving seven, including three independents, in the running for the seat.

Among them are Izazul Mulk of JI, Haji Bahadar Khan of ANP, Syed Anwar Khan of JUI-F and Ziaul Haq of Pakistan Rah-i-Haq Party and three independents, including Mir Zada, Liaquat Seemab and Dr Ubaidur Rehman.

Though PTI is supporting JI in the election as part of joint strategy, disgruntled PTI worker Dr Ubaidur Rehman has jumped into the electoral arena as independent candidate.

On the other hand, the opposition alliance consisting of PPP, JUI-F and ANP, has failed to field a joint candidate.

The other day, JUI-F announced the ending of its alliance with PPP and ANP saying it will contest the by-election in PK-95 and other constituencies independently.

The political observers say a close contest is expected between JI and ANP but the PTI vote bank will have a decisive role.

According to them, if PTI workers vote for the JI candidate, he will win by-election easily but if they vote for independent candidate Dr Ubaidur Rehman, then the ANP candidate is likely to be the winner.

The observers say as JI chief Sirajul Haq belongs to this constituency, his party is trying its level best not to lose the seat.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2015

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