The Malik effect: Tribal influence continues to haunt FATA

Although political parties are allowed to field any candidates, they chose the ones with links to tribal elders.

SHABQADAR:

In August 2011, President Asif Ali Zardari extended the Political Parties Act of 2002 to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), a move locals hoped would pave the way for the area to be free from tribal obligations in politics. Whether the extension of the act brought some real change or not is arguable, but what is apparent is that residents are still bound to their clan and to the traditional power holders.

Bringing Fata under the act gave political parties the mandate to operate as freely as they do in the rest of the country. Before the extension, MNAs from Fata were not allowed to join any political party.

For former general secretary of the Tribal Union of Journalists, Taj Muhammad, the fact that all major parties are contesting elections from Fata makes it a historic moment for the tribal belt.



However, he argued all political parties’ candidates were seeking votes on the basis of their tribes.

The parties are no different; they have allotted tickets to candidates belonging to the Maliks or the privilege holders of old, maintained Taj.

In Mohmand Agency, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has awarded a party ticket to Dawood Shah, the grandson of a Malik. While in Bajaur, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket went to the Khan of Pashat. The Pakistan Peoples Party awarded tickets to Tori tribe members in Kurram and Orakzai – who in the past won as independent candidates.

According to Taj, all candidates in these constituencies have strong tribal backgrounds.

Where is the party ideology?

Nisar Mohmand turned down the Awami National Party (ANP) ticket for NA-36 and decided to contest independently.

“I held a jirga and my Tarakzai tribe decided to contest elections independently instead of contesting from a party platform,” explained Mohmand. He was also assured by the elders of the youth support if he ran as an independent - support he would not have readily had if he was fielded as an ANP candidate.

All those who were PTI workers from the very start in the agency were ignored, said Naveed Hurmazi a PhD scholar and resident of North Waziristan. Instead, he added, the party gave the ticket to Malik Qayum, who lost the 2008 elections. “I don’t know why the PTI gave him the ticket,” Hurmazi said.

Similarly, former Fata MNA Munir Orakzai was awarded a ticket the day he joined the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

A senior political party leader in North Waziristan, who wished to remain anonymous, maintained the JUI-F also treaded the same line and awarded the ticket to a rich candidate, who also lost in 2008. “The party has no other option in terms of candidates,” he added.

There are two constituencies in Khyber Agency where Bara Afridi sub tribes, Qambar Khel Malak Din Khel and Sipah are residing. The major tribes in Jamrud are Kuki Khel and Shinwari.

According to Mahboob Afridi, a local journalist, the PML-N granted the party ticket to a candidate from Akakhel and the Jamaat-e-Islami to a resident of Sipah.

In NA-45 Jamrud, the ANP has fielded Malik Nadir Khan, son of Malik Darya Khan of the Kuki Khel tribe. Nadir Khan will face another wealthy peer of the PTI and an independent Peer Noorul Haq Qadri.

Party ticket holders are campaigning using their tribe card instead of party manifestos, stated Mahboob Afridi. The PML-N has no presence in Bara, but if their candidate Sohail Afridi gets some votes, the journalist added, it will be solely on the back of his personal links.

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