By-polls: Close contest expected between PTI, ANP for PK-71 in Peshawar

PML-N, PPP, MMA all out in support of ANP’s Salahuddin Mohmand


Our Correspondent October 21, 2018
Soldiers, police and polling officials carry election material for the by-polls in Peshawar. Photo: NNI

PESHAWAR: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is all prepared to hold by-polls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) constituency PK-71.Peshaw VI which was won by K-P Governor Shah Farman in the July 25th elections. However the seat fell vacant when Farman was nominated K-P governor.

According to details, five candidates are contesting for the slot, however it seems that a  close contest between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Zulfiqar Ali, brother of K-P governor Shah Farman and Awami National Party’s (ANP) Salahuddin Mohmand.will be witnessed.

ANP candidate Salahuddin Mohmand is being supported by an alliance of different political parties including Pakistan Muslim League — Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Mutahhida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

All political parties withdrew their candidates and made an alliance on a similar pattern the way the alliance supported ANP’s candidate on PK-78. Samar Bilour of ANP won against PTI’s Muhammad Irfan in PK-78.

According to ECP, 86 polling stations have been established across the constituency with 48 polling stations for male voters and 35 for female voters. Male and female voters will jointly cast their votes at three polling stations.

A total of 307 polling booths have been established. ECP also shared that some 86 presiding officers, 307 assistant presiding officers and 307 polling officers will be carrying out duties during by-polls. The election campaign concluded Friday night.

The area comprises Union Councils (UC) Maryamzai, Mattani, Azakhail, Adezai, Sherkera, Mashokhel besides others where the total number of registered voters is 133,451; out of which, 79,836 are male voters and 53,615 are female voters.

Strict security measures have been adopted for the by-polls since the area has witnessed some of its worst times of its history during the past 10 years. Once considered to be the hotbed for militancy, the area has now come under the control of security forces where they have established several checkpoints.

In 2002, MMA’s Javed Momand won a seat followed by ANP’s Khushdil Khan in 2008. In 2013, the area residents voted in favor of K-P Governor Shah Farman. In 2018, the area residents voted in favor of Farman again however after taking oath as governor, Farman vacated the seat and now his brother is contesting against ANP’s Salahuddin Mohmand.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2018.

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