The PML-N in K-P affirmed it would honour PTI’s mandate after the party bagged 34 provincial assembly seats on Election Day. PML-N leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan told journalists on Tuesday his party had no intention of thwarting the PTI’s attempt to form K-P’s provincial government.

“I will not comment on the JUI-F’s aspirations, whatever they may be, but will make it clear that the PML-N openheartedly accepts the PTI’s mandate to form the provincial government,” said Mehtab, who is the PML-N’s only prominent figure to win his constituency in K-P.

Nawaz Sharif’s party remains crucial in K-P’s politics even though it only secured 13 seats in the province. With sufficient support from coalition partners, it can make or break the provincial government.

On the other hand, the JUI-F remains hopeful of forming the government by approaching the 13 independent candidates who succeeded in the province in addition to the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and PML-N.

In contrast with the PTI, the party enjoys cordial relations with both the PML-N and QWP.

“If the PTI extends a positive gesture to us in K-P, we are ready to respond in kind,” Mehtab added, hinting his party is even ready to be part of the new government if offered. “PTI is free in choosing its options and can go with whoever it wants.”

Mehtab was accompanied by PML-N General Secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak. He defended his stance by pointing out PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s position of inviting all political stakeholders to join him in order to salvage the country from the current crises.

“Though we did not show good results in K-P, we will play our positive role,” Mehtab said. “Keeping in view their (the PTI’s) attitude, we will support every good measure they take.”

Mehtab termed the JUI-F’s attempts to contact the PML-N in K-P a ‘post-election phenomena’, often carried out by parties to “exchange views.” He further said his party would not make any attempts to destabilise K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: While the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are temporarily wiped out in the province, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) too missed out on securing a strong position on the even-playing turf offered by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), though yet to expand its presence in most areas of the province, won seats from Charsadda, an ancestral ANP region, ringing in new bells of nationalist politics.

K-P’s mantra of change

Continuing with the tradition of giving newcomers an opportunity, the people of K-P have opted for the PTI to lead them with the party’s candidates remaining triumphant in districts as far north as Chitral as well as in the southern areas of Karak and Hangu.

In 2002, the province allowed the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) into power after being promised a reaction to the increasing American presence in the region. As time went on, however, militants continued to plague the province and inhibit the free spirit of the people.

In 2008, the winds of change gave power to the ANP and PPP with the hope that the two parties would put an end to militancy and set the region on the path of development. Despite the ANP taking on the militant threat, K-P found itself overwhelmed by the increasing intensity of bomb blasts and suicide attacks, further plunging the region into a war-like situation.

On May 11, 2013, the PTI’s tsunami was enthusiastically embraced by the people of the province in numbers greater than anywhere else in the country. In the process of ‘change’, people are once again searching for better prospects in life. The problems at hand include deteriorating law and order, infrastructural development and corruption.

Parties in political decline

The ANP and PPP in particular were haunted by militant threats during their electioneering activities, leaving them unable to carry out public campaigns. This was accompanied by the the provinces’ rejection of the parties’ policies during their tumultuous tenure.

On the other hand, the PML-N could not match the PTI either. Despite never being ‘perturbed’ in its campaign, in the end it could not deliver, much to the dismay of party chief Nawaz Sharif. Except for Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbassi, all candidates from the party’s central leadership lost their constituencies.

In K-P, internal rifts and divisions in the party, which were particularly exacerbated with Muqam’s induction, contributed to the party’s loss at the provincial level.

Power redistributed

The Jamaat-e-Islami succeeded in the polls by winning seats from Dir. Similarly, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) showed a strong presence in districts like Lakki Marwat, DI Khan, Bannu and Tank.

The QWP, which advocated the representation of Pukhtuns in international forums, replaced the ANP as the region’s nationalist party by winning in the latter’s home constituency of Charsadda. This transfer of power signifies a new environment for those championing the cause of Pukhtun nationalism.

The developing political scenario is yet to mature in the formation of the K-P government. With people passionately waiting for positive change in a new political landscape, at least one thing is certain: they realise the importance of their vote.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.

Unfortunately women in certain localities could not exercise their right to vote and in some cases were allegedly manipulated to vote at the behest of candidates. Ban for women voters also surfaced at certain localities at the eleventh hour.

However, when the final results turn up, by their presence or their absence, women voters would have directly contributed to the next Government of Pakistan.

NA-1 Peshawar-I

The turnout in NA-1 was in the thousands. This was especially significant as women were seen forming long queues outside polling stations – even in areas such as Shaikhabad, Zagarabad, Afrido Garhi and Rasheedabad where women were usually not allowed to step out of their homes.

Voting slowed down substantially at the polling station at Faqirabad Government College as the presiding officer did not show up. Women who were not on the same list as the rest of their family members (a common complaint) tended to not go out on their own to vote.

Many political parties had been predicting the female vote could be a game changer for poll outcomes. NA-1 might be one area where this might be an actual possibility.

NA-2 Peshawar-II

Men in five villages on the outskirts of Peshawar did not ‘allow’ women to vote as per “local tradition”. Landi Bala, Landi Payan, Sangu, Achini and Haji Banda lie adjacent to Shalober, Khyber Agency and women polling stations there remained deserted throughout Election Day.

All five lie within NA-2 and PK-6. Their inhabitants proudly claim women have not been allowed to cast votes in any election in the history of the villages.

Local elder and former nazim Wahidullah Khan told The Express Tribune previously, villagers would unanimously decide not to allow female participation in elections, but this year no such decision was taken. However, women still did not turn up to vote.

Awami National Party (ANP) representative Shaukat Khan expressed a similar opinion. “It is not our tradition (women voting) and I think people respect it.”

Rahmat Ali, another elder, disagreed. He pointed out “nearly all surrounding villages let women vote” because not doing so was “against the local tradition.”

There were approximately 1,500 females registered to vote in the list provided by the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) to the Landi Bala polling station. “Not a single vote has been cast,” said the polling officer who had been there since 6am.

Locals observed the turnout for male voters was ‘record; but nothing new for women voters.’

NA-4 Peshawar-IV

The constituency showed strength of force in the face of threats by those claiming voting was ‘anti-Islam’ and thronged to polling stations to vote.

In addition to the expected male voters, a surprisingly large number of women turned up to cast their ballots. This was short-lived as after 11am female polling was banned at a majority of stations with the consent of political parties.

“I did not allow my wife to visit the polling station due to Taliban threats. But I was in a state of shock after seeing a number of women casting their vote,” a voter from Pasanni village at the NA-4/PK-10 polling station bordering Frontier Region Peshawar told The Express Tribune over the phone, requesting anonymity.

Women turned up in large numbers at the Government Higher Secondary School in Badhaber – to the point that the army was called in to quell fights.  Frontier Constabulary and the police were already present in large numbers and were found unnecessarily crowding the stations.

According to voters, a fight broke out between ANP and the Pakistan Peoples Party workers, at which point the candidates arrived to intervene, making things worse. The army eventually dispersed the media and the extraneous men to take control of the situation, after which polling stopped. Till the filing of this report, it could not be determined if polling resumed.

In Government Girls Primary School Garhi Qamardeen, PK-6, “only five females used their right to vote, while the others went back. I don’t know why, but people said political parties had agreed to prevent women from taking part in the elections,” said Shabana, the presiding officer.

While women voted at the Government Middle School Hazar Khwani, an undue influence of policemen could be noted in the female polling booth. They were seen scolding women, ferrying them inside booths and crowding entrances.

Consequently, polling stopped midway, amidst accusations of the ANP interfering because of a perceived Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) victory.

Elsewhere in K-P

In NA-11 Mardan-III, male voters at two polling stations at the Government Middle School Surhabai-Rustam decided not to allow women to cast ballots at the combined station.

There were reports of brawls at NA-12 Swabi-I, which broke out following frequent visits by a candidate to the women’s polling station.

Polling booths were shifted without notice at the eleventh hour from Government Girls Primary School to a high school in another locality. Stuck without transport, many women voters had to turn back without voting.

In a last minute decision, women voters were barred from casting ballots in Paharkhel, NA-27 Lakki Marwat. It was a call made by tribal elders headed by Sharifullah and Goharzad.

Men forcefully stopped women from casting votes in various villages in NA-28 Buner. “In Dherai, Malakpur and Matwanai, elders unanimously decided not to allow women to cast votes. The decision was accepted by all political parties too,” said Shaukat Yousafzai, a local reporter.

Reports indicated women were not allowed to vote in Nogram. However, polling went smoothly in the rest of Buner where men and women participated enthusiastically.

In Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar, not a single woman turned up, despite announcements made by the administration urging females to cast their votes.

Across Swat (NA-29 and NA-30), women were seen participating, in spite of issues reported in many tehsils.

In Kabal and Matta, workers and political agents of certain political parties reportedly forced women to vote in their favour. After voters complained, the army was called in to streamline the polling process, according to Fazal Wadood, a resident of Kabal.

Turnout in many female polling stations was very low, but for the first time in history, all the female polling stations were functional and had women polling.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2013.

“Despite concerns shown by various quarters regarding violent extremist attacks, the day passed well enough,” said Mossarat Qadeem, spokesperson for the K-P caretaker government, during a press briefing. “People turned up in large numbers to vote.”

Qadeem appreciated the role the Pakistan Army played in implementing tight security arrangements. “The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ensured impartial and peaceful elections,” she said, adding despite 6, 212 polling stations being declared sensitive out of a total of 9,284, the caretaker government’s arrangements proved effective. Up to 81,000 police personnel were appointed to man polling stations across K-P on May 11 at a cost of Rs160 million, she informed.

“The turnout seems to be good as I personally visited eight polling stations, but we cannot say anything regarding the turnout percentage right now,” she said in response to a question.

Qadeem admitted there were instances of complaints registered at certain polling stations, particularly in Dir where women were banned from voting. She, however, claimed timely notice of the situations resulted in solutions.

Regarding formation of the future government, she said the caretaker setup in K-P was ready to hand over power at the earliest.

Speaking on the occasion, K-P caretaker interior minister Fiaz Toru said a well-coordinated plan of intelligence sharing along with information being passed between various departments had allowed elections to be conducted efficiently. “Only 72 incidents occurred in K-P, including scuffles at polling stations and explosions caused by improvised explosive devices,” said Toru, adding 10 explosive devices were defused in various localities on the eve of Election Day.

“With respect to the number of polling stations in the province, the incident occurrence rate is no more than 0.5%,” he maintained. “Sealing the border with Afghanistan also helped, as every chapter of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan remained unsuccessful in their designs,” claimed Toru.

“Out of frustration, two mortar and two rocket attacks were made from Kunar province in Afghanistan on Shamikot and Nusrat Darra in Dir,” said Toru, adding no casualties were reported in the attacks. Toru further said rockets which were fired at Kurrum Agency from across the border did not cause any harm either.

The other side

In stark contrast to the government’s assertions, several voters reportedly faced issues due to mismanagement and a lack of polling staff at a number of stations in Peshawar.

In a polling station for women located in Government College Peshawar, two presiding officers and one assistant presiding officer were absent for the entire day. “We informed concerned officials at 7:45am that we were lacking polling officials, and requested they provide additional personnel,” said Mera Gul, a presiding officer at the college. “The concerned officials did not pay any attention to our request,” she complained.

Additionally, there were no women police constables at Government High School Ghari Qamardin, where women were casting their ballots. At the Hazar Khwani polling station, ballot boxes were set up in a small room which was flooded with agents associated with various political parties.

In Government High School Faqirabad, a suspicious car parked near the polling station created panic among voters. After a considerable period of time, the official on duty called the bomb disposable squad which inspected the car and moved it away from the polling station.

Similarly, there were no proper arrangements in place in NA-4, Government Girls School Badhaber, where no queue was established to streamline the process. The situation resulted in harsh words being exchanged between voters and the polling staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2013.

Elders of Upper Dir district, under the head of Malik Jehanzeb and Malik Faiz Muhammad and leaders of political parties in the region reached an agreement that women will not be allowed to cast their votes.

Jehanzeb though did not clarify whether the political parties’ local leadership had made a joint decision. “Even if allowed to vote, women would not be able to cast their votes because polling stations are in far flung areas in Upper Dir,” he said.

According to him, there are other issues preventing women from voting such as the absence of separate polling booths for women along with security concerns.

The move comes despite the Election Commission of Pakistan making it mandatory for women to vote and cleared a law which called for a mandatory 10% of the votes at every polling station to be cast by women.

The party leaders also unanimously decided that if anyone violated the ban, they would pay a 10-million-rupee fine.

Political parties in some areas of Swat have also decided to prevent women from their right to franchise.

“We attended a meeting at Lwarey Jamaat in which members of all political parties and elders of the area participated. They all unanimously decided to maintain their tradition of not allowing women to poll,” an elder of Amankot village told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.

Civil society groups staged a protest in Saidu Sharif against the decision. “What is the reason behind the decision? Who are these men to stop us from our legal right? Why are they holding jirgas and meetings to stop women from using their constitutional right? We clearly convey this to the ECP and other related institutions that if women’s voting ration is less than 10%, we will never accept the result,” said Tabassum Bashir, a women’s rights activist.

PPPP to empower women, not disenfranchise them

Secretary General Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said that PPPP believes in emancipation and empowerment of women and it did not enter into an overt or covert agreement to deprive the women of their right to franchise.

Ashraf said this in a statement on Friday in response to reports that alleged PPPP had entered into an agreement with other political parties like Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in Upper Dir to ban women from voting.

“I wish to make it abundantly clear that the policy of the party has been and will continue to be to empower women and there is no question of doing anything that would lead to disenfranchising women.”

Former Awami National Party Senator Zahid Khan also said on Twitter that his party was not involved in any deals that barred women from voting in Dir. “Any speculation to the contrary is incorrect.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: NA-1

NA- 1 Peshawar-I constituency is one of the most important constituencies in the country with Imran Khan and Awami National Party (ANP) central leader Ghulam Ahmad Bilour contesting against each other.

Other aspirants from the constituency include the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Zulfiqar Afghani, Shabir Ahmed Khan of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Haji Afzal Pinyala of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Shah Nawaz Khan of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

NA-1, a constituency historically dominated by a Hindko speaking population, has witnessed a change in demographics due to the urbanisation of the last 15 years. It has traditionally been a stronghold of the ANP and PPP, but this time the PTI may be a game-changer.

NA-2/NA-3

This constituency has been dominated by the politics of the Arbab family under the leadership of the late Arbab Muhammad Jehangir and Arbab Alamgir. After a period of losses between 1985 and 2002, the Arbab family emerged victorious in 2008 elections when Arbab Alamgir won from NA-2. Now, the PPP’s Alamgir will face Arbab Najibullah of the ANP, who was runner up in 2008. Both candidates have considerable political clout, promising a tough fight. Dr Iqbal Khalil of the JI, PTI’s Engineer Hamid Ul Haq, and Abdul Bari Khattak of the PML-N are also standing from the same seat.

In NA-3, Peshawar-III, Noor Alam Khan of the PPP, who won in 2008, will be challenged by Haji Ghulam Ali of the JUI-F, Arbab Inam of the ANP, Sajid Nawaz of the PTI and the PML-N’s Zafar Iqbal Jhagra.

NA-4/NA-5

In NA-4 Peshawar-IV, the ANP’s Arbab Ayub Jan is up against the PTI’s Gulzar Khan, a former bureaucrat. Other candidates include Sabir Hussain (JI) and Misbahuddin (PPP).

Asif Luqman Qazi is carrying on the political legacy of his late father and former JI chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, from NA-5 Nowshera. Qazi will face PPP stalwart Tariq Khattak, who won the 2008 elections.PTI’s Pervez Khattak and Daud Khattak of the ANP are the other candidates for the NA-5 seat.

NA-7/NA-8/NA-9

In NA-7, Charsadda-I, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan is standing against Maulana Gohar Shah of the JUI-F while Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Sherpao is facing the ANP’s Taimur Khan in NA-8, Charsadda-II. Both Wali Khan and Sherpao stand a good chance of winning their respective seats.

The ANP’s Amir Haider Khan Hoti, former chief minister of K-P, PML-N’s Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti and PPP’s Shazia Aurangzeb are contesting from NA-9, Mardan. A close contest is expected between the ANP and PML-N in this constituency.

NA-24

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rahman and the PPP’s Waqar Ahmad are going head-to-head in NA-24, DI Khan. Ahmad has unofficially announced his support for the PML-N and ANP against the JUI-F chief.

NA-30

PML-N central vice president Amir Muqam is facing strong rivals in NA-30, Swat, with ANP’s Khurshid Khan and PML-N’s Nairooz Mian in the race for the seat.

NA-17

PML-N provincial president and former chief minister Sardar Mehtab and the PTI’s Dr Azhar Jadoon are contesting from NA-17, Abbottabad. Jadoon, a runner up in 2008, has the support of former federal minister Amanullah Jadoon and Baba Haider Zaman, chief of the Tehrik-e-Sooba Hazara. This will inevitably make things difficult for Mehtab.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2013.

Nawaz, in his second trip to Hazara in the last 9 days, said the crowd at his rally indicated that the PML-N had already won the elections and was set to resume the process of development in the country.

Criticising the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Nawaz said the PPP had been eliminated from the political scene, and had left behind its B-team.

“Zardari has run away leaving behind a khilari (player) who would also face the same fate in the next few days,” he said while referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

He said he would resolve all concerns of the people, from lack of development and energy crises to unemployment, and transform the country into a developed one.

“We would give your Hazara province, Tarbela Dam’s royalty, build expressways and reconstruct Khanpur-Taxila Road,” he said.

Swabi

While addressing party activists in Swabi Cricket Ground, Nawaz said after May 11, PML-N would triumph and once again launch multiple development projects in the area, adding that if people voted for his party, they could change the fate of the nation.

He claimed he would launch the second phase of the Pehur Canal, provide gas to every household and solve the electricity problems in the region.

He said that people should not vote for him to make him the prime minister, but to redeem the nation’s economy. He lashed out at the previous government for pushing the country to the brink of destruction due to their corrupt policies.

Though Swabi was among one of the biggest electricity producing districts in Pakistan, according to Nawaz, it was left in the darkness because of the previous government’s corruption.

Peshawar

Delivering a speech to party workers on Tuesday, Nawaz Sharif said it was his dream to complete a motorway from Peshawar to Kabul onwards till Tashkent. The PML-N chief, who hardly spent 10 minutes delivering a speech on his last election campaign visit to Peshawar, attempted to attract the youth and said all jobless degree holders would get credit facilities.

In an apparent reference to his opponent, Imran Khan, Nawaz said he did not just play on the ground, but also delivered by participating in the country’s development.

Flanked by party candidates from Peshawar, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Nasir Musazai, Sifatullah and Afzal Pinyala, Nawaz said, “We would make the whole region a land of peace again,” adding that Musharraf and Zardari had wreaked havoc in the country.

Rawalpindi

Addressing a gathering in Liaquat Bagh, Nawaz said he did not come to Rawalpindi for his personal interests but for the sake of the country which is beset by a number of problems.

“Pakistan is facing joblessness, energy crises, illiteracy, suicide attacks, lawlessness in Karachi, Balochistan and tribal areas and economic instability,” he said.

“I cannot tolerate to see my country in such crises,” he said adding that if people wanted to rid the country of the prevailing crises, they should vote for PML-N.

“The development work we carried out in those two years could not happen in the last 10 years. Pakistan would have become an Asian economic tiger had we been allowed to complete our tenure,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: Electioneering in Swabi is marked by alliances on one hand, and strong nationalistic politics spurring support for the Awami National Party (ANP), on the other. Swabi is one of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s central districts, and consists of two National Assembly and six provincial assembly seats. In the run up to the polls, a total of 204 candidates filed nomination papers to stand from the district.

However, as Election Day drew closer, 92 of these either withdrew their papers or were rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan on various grounds. Now, a total 112 candidates  — those standing as independents and those representing various political parties — are in the run to contest from Swabi. In 2008, the ANP proved itself to be a strong political force in Swabi by winning four provincial assembly seats and one National Assembly seat. As far as electoral partnerships are concerned, the Swabi Qaumi Mahaz (SQM), established by the late Dr Muhammad Salim Khan after he dissented from the ANP, has entered an alliance with the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad (AJI) founded by industrialist Liaqat Khan. The partnership has allowed both to become strong contenders in the district. The Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), meanwhile, has adjusted seats with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has made an alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and the Jamaat Ishaat Wa Tuheed Sunnah (JIWTS).

Provincial Assembly

PK-31 Swabi-I

Sixteen candidates will be vying for this provincial assembly seat. A contest is expected between the ANP, AJI, PML-N and QWP. The PTI and PPP meanwhile do not have the vote bank to back their claim to the seat. The circumstances also offer favourable prospects for Irshad Khan, an independent, and Fayaz Ali Khan of the QWP who also enjoys the support of the JUI-F.

Interestingly, the ANP’s Gul Zameen Shah, the AJI’s Babar Khan Tarakai and the PML-N’s Dildar Khan are from the same village.

PK-32 Swabi-II

In this constituency, there is a contest between the ANP’s Amir Rehman, and the AJI’s Shehram Khan Tarakai. As in Swabi’s other constituencies, the PTI, PML-N, PPP and JI also have their candidates contesting for the seat.

Once again, the ANP and the AJI candidates are neck and neck. The ANP’s Rehman, who is the son of ANP district president Haji Rehmanullah, won this seat in the 2002 elections but was defeated in 2008 at the hands of Javed Khan Tarakai, Shehram Khan’s uncle.

PK-33 Swabi-III

Twelve candidates from different political parties are contesting PK-33, once a stronghold of the ANP.

The main contenders in this constituency are the ANP’s Muhammad Ashfaq Khan, AJI’s Muhammad Ali Khan, PML-N’s Darvesh Khan, QWP’s Suleman Wali, PPP’s Arsala Khan, PTI’s Zubair Ali, JI’s Mehmudul Hasan and JUI-F’s Maulana Saleh Muhammad.

Analysts claim although the AJI is the ANP’s main opponent, it will not be able to give the latter tough competition as the constituency has traditionally been an ANP-dominated region.

PK-34 Swabi-IV

In PK-34, the ANP’s Amjad Ali Khan and QWP’s Abdul Karim Khan will put up a fight. The two candidates are once again facing each other in the polls, amid 10 other candidates standing for the seat.

In 2008, the seat was won by Sardar Ali Khan who defeated the QWP’s Abdul Karim Khan by securing 9,728 votes. Amjad Ali of the ANP was third in the race with a total of 7,415 votes. This time, the contest will be between the latter two as Sardar Ali is not contesting after a fake degree case was filed against him.

PK-35 Swabi-V

In this constituency, there are 12 candidates. The contest is between the PML-N’s Sajjad Khan, the PTI’s Asad Qaiser, and the ANP’s Muhammad Islam Khan. In 2008, the constituency was won by the ANP’s Sikandar Irfan Khan.

PK-36 Swabi-VI

The district’s last constituency has 14 candidates hoping to win the seat.

The ANP’s Sarfaraz Khan, PTI’s Rangez Ahmed Khan, JI’s Saeed Zada, PML-N’s Muhammad Sheraz Khan and the JUI-F’s Sajjad Khan are the main candidates who will be testing their popularity in the region.

Sajjad Khan is the son of former MPA, Ghafoor Khan Jadoon, who won this seat thrice in the past. In 2008, the seat was won by ANP candidate Sarfaraz Khan Jadoon.

NA-12

There are a total of 15 candidates jostling for this National Assembly seat. However, the real competition will inevitably be between the ANP and AJI. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also have strong vote banks in this constituency. However, neither of these parties are major contenders. The ANP candidate for NA-12 is Haji Rehmanullah Khan, who has won this particular seat twice in the past. He will be facing Usman Khan Tarakai of the AJI.

NA-13

Eighteen candidates from various political parties are contesting Swabi’s second National Assembly seat. An area with a strong ANP vote bank in the past, the situation now may be very different. This time the ANP has awarded a ticket to Muhammad Sarwar Khan, a retired banker from Marghuz village. The PTI on the other hand has fielded Asad Qaiser, the party’s provincial president who is also from the same village. Qaiser is a strong contender and may well force the ANP to fight harder for success this time round.

Although the AJI is the ANP’s main opponent for PK-33, it will not be able to give the latter tough competition as the constituency has traditionally been an ANP-dominated region

- An analyst

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2013.

Addressing a condolence meeting via Skype at the Bacha Khan Markaz on Saturday over the targeted killing of their National Assembly candidate Sadiq Zaman Khattak in Karachi, Hussain said that by not providing security to ANP candidates, the caretaker government and ECP had effectively sided with militants.

“What kind of election commission is this? An ANP worker cannot even visit his constituency while rival parties are able hold as many as six political meetings a day… there is a question mark over the elections,” asserted Hussain, who is also the ANP candidate for PK-12 (Nowshera-I).

The ANP leader came down hard on the caretaker government, accusing it of being repeatedly negligent in spite of the mounting attacks on candidates and gatherings of ANP and other liberal parties. He added that the ECP, for all its promises, had failed to provide any security for candidates as well.

“What would one do with [ECP’s] security provision when there will be no candidate alive to avail it,” questioned Hussain, in a jibe aimed at the commission’s plan for security on Election Day. He maintained that attacks against ANP and other liberal parties were tantamount to pre-poll rigging.

But while he lamented the government’s apathy regarding the attacks, the ANP leader was quick to dispel any impression that his party may boycott the elections.

“We will not boycott the elections, rather we will fight it out… the powers resorting to terrorism should not indulge in any misgiving that the ANP is under siege,” Hussain maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2013.

PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP), forced to campaign in secret after repeatedly being targeted through gun and bomb attacks, burst at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) raising question on its impartiality.

“The elections are going to be partial and its impartiality is a question mark,” said ANP central leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain in Peshawar on Saturday.

Addressing a condolence reference at Bacha Khan Markaz over the targeted killing of their National Assembly hopeful Sadiq Zaman Khattak in Karachi on Friday, Hussain said that by not providing security to ANP candidates, the caretaker government and the ECP has sided with the militants.

“Impartiality, what kind of ECP is this? An ANP worker cannot go to his constituency and those of rival parties are able to hold as many as six political meetings in a day?”

The ANP leader termed the attacks on liberal political parties as a form of pre-election rigging and an indication that the elections would not be impartial rather they would be partial.

Hussain, who is contesting from PK-12 Nowshera has himself been limited Skype based video address to his constituency members.

“We (ANP) have been tied for any play (electioneering) and others are allowed to openly campaign.”

Despite his allegations of the elections being less than impartial, Hussain quickly dispelled any notion of the ANP boycotting the upcoming elections.

“We are not going to boycott elections rather we are all ready to fight it out.”

HUssain also came down hard on the caretaker government claiming that the interims had continually neglected security for election candidates and ANP party workers were yet to be provided with state security.

“What would one do with that security provision when there will be no candidate alive to avail it.”

The ANP leader also refuted the ECP’s statement that their party workers had been provided with security.