GHALANAI: A tough competition is expected in the NA-42 Mohmand constituency.

Noted among 21 election candidates are former MNA Malik Bilal Rehman, his father Malik Abdur Rehman alias (Reman), and his brother Abbas Rehman as independent candidates, and PTI candidate Sajid Khan.

The others include Nisar Ahmad of the ANP, Maulana Ghulam Sadiq of the JUI-F, Mohammad Saeed Khan of the JI, Haji Zar Khan Safi of the PML-N, Malik Israel Khan of the PPP, Mustafa Khan of the QWP and independents Haji Abdur Rehman Faqir, Qari Ehsanullah, Adnan Khan and Khandad Utmankhel.

People foresee better voter turnout

Bilal Rehman remained an MNA from the constituency for two times, while his brother, Malik Hilal Rehman, is a senator.

According to the locals, the real contest is among Malik Bilal Rehman, PTI’s Sajid Khan, JI’s Saeed Khan and JUI-F’s Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq.

They said Malik Bilal’s position was strong as he had a large vote bank in the constituency for upgrading Ghalanai grid station, sinking 2700 wells, upgrading 12 schools, constructing five basic health facilities and links roads in far flung areas of Ambar, Pandiali, Prang Ghar and Haleemzai, constructing Khewazai grid station, and executing small and big projects.

The residents also said PTI candidate Sajid Khan was also a popular man in the area, especially among youths.

They said the PTI was divided over nomination in the last elections but this time around, it faced no differences and was likely to grab lots of votes.

The constituency has 255,522 registered voters, including 158,843 men and 96,679 women.

The JI and JUI-F candidates have also many supporters in every tehsil of the region and got a sizeable number of votes in the 2003 and 2013 elections.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, 11 candidates are awaiting formal nomination by their respective parties.

The constituency has 187 polling stations, including 69 in Upper Mohmand subdivision, 82 in Lower Mohmand subdivision and 36 in Biazai subdivision bordering Afghanistan.

Half of the polling stations have been declared sensitive, 73 sensitive, 44 most sensitive and the rest normal.

All political parties and independent candidates begin their election campaigns in various localities of the region.

The voter turnout in the constituency was 23 per cent in the 2008 general elections and 46 per cent in the 2013 polls.

However, the people insist that the second party-based elections are likely to have better voter turnout.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2018