LAKKI MARWAT: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl received a major blow in the local electoral politics as one of its key leaders and prominent religious scholar, Mufti Abdul Ghani, parted ways with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and announced his support for Marwat Qaumi Ittehad (MQI) candidates in the Feb 8 polls.

He made the announcement in the presence of former federal ministers Anwar Saifullah Khan and Salim Saifullah Khan, candidates for PK-107, Lakki Marwat-III, and NA-41, Lakki Marwat, respectively, in Islamabad on Sunday.

On the occasion, a former union council nazim, Haji Bashir Khan of Hayatkhel and Pasham Khan and Habibur Rehman of Titterkhel also joined the group headed by Saifullah brothers.

Salim Saifullah welcomed Mufti Ghani and his supporters into the fold of MQI and said their ‘wise’ decision would strengthen the candidates affiliated with the group.

He said the alliance had been formed to remove backwardness of the district. He said people should vote for those candidates whose past was not tainted with corruption.

He asked the people to send honest representatives to assemblies so they could steer the country out of crises and serve them in a better way.

Mufti Ghani acknowledged the services of influential Saifullahs for development of the district. He assured Saifullah brothers of full support in the sole National Assembly and three provincial assembly constituencies in the coming elections.

Mufti Abdul Ghani is an administrator of Jamia Halimia located in Darra Pezu town, and has a strong influence in the entire district.

Though reasons behind his differences with Fazl are not in the light, many in the party found it difficult to digest the decision of JUI-F chief to field his son, Asjad Mehmood for NA-41.

The district is considered to be a stronghold of JUI-F and a major vote bank always lured Fazl to put his family members in the polls arena.

In the 2013 elections, Fazlur Rehman had won the national assembly seat from Lakki Marwat. He then vacated the seat, but his brother, Maulana Attaur Rehman could not retain it in be-elections as Amirullah Marwat of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had emerged as returned candidate with support of Saifullah brothers.

In 2018 elections, Maulana Mohammad Anwar of JUI-F, who is a teacher in Jamia Halimia, had won the NA seat, defeating former district nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel, who was backed by PTI.

SUPPORT PLEDGED: PTI Leaders and activists on Sunday pledged support for the party’s candidate for NA-39, Bannu, Maulana Naseem Ali Shah and said other aspirants of the party would withdraw from the poll race in his favour.

At a meeting held in Bannu city on Sunday, they said they would launch an enthusiastic campaign for the religious leader to ensure his victory in the Feb 8 polls.

An insider said Malik Zafar Hayat and Malik Shakil had convened the meeting to forge consensus among local leaders and get their support for Maulana Naseem Shah.

The participants said despite the state ‘highhandedness’, PTI leaders and activists still reposed full confidence in the leadership of Imran Khan and they would utilise all energies to muster support for the party’s candidates.

They said Maulana Naseem was a consensus candidate for the NA constituency and his rival candidates would be expelled from the election arena with power of vote.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024