SWABI: Unlike other political parties the religious parties are yet to start their election campaign in the district.

Insiders say that the time is very short and delay in starting campaign might harm their candidates. Leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Jamaat-i-Islami said that tickets would be awarded through consensus.

Four religious parties, JI, JUI-F, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazriyati (JUI-Z) have presence in the district. The latter two are not part of the rejuvenated Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, while JUI-F and JI would share the tickets.

In 2002 election, the JI and JUI-F equally distributed tickets of two National Assembly and six provincial assembly constituencies.

Asked about award of tickets, JUI-F central deputy chief Maulana Fazal Ali told this scribe that they wanted a lion’s share in the tickets.

Sources said that JI might face leadership dilemma as party provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad Khan had been elected as senator and district chief Mehmoodul Hassan, former district head Amir Nawaz and Saeed Zada had not showed their intentions yet. Mr Hassan is expected to contest general election from PK-46.

Meanwhile, three candidates of JUI-F are expected to contest the election. Attaulhaq Darvaish, who contested election three times from then NA-13, Swabi-II, remained as runner-up candidate each time. Ayaz Khan, son of Ghafoor Khan Jadoon, was expected to contest election from PK-43, Swabi-I.

After the delimitation, Maulana Fazal Ali of JUI-F and Mr Ayaz came in one constituency. The JUI-F leaders said that Mr Ali had given up in favour of Mr Ayaz. However, the big issue is that Mr Darviash and Mr Ali both want to contest election from PK-18, Swabi-I, and it was not clear who would get the party ticket.

Maulana Khalil Mukhlis, central chief of JUI-Z, told this correspondent that he had planned to contest election from NA-18 and PK-43.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018