Like the previous general elections, about 30 heavyweights of various political and religious parties are again in the field in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for the general elections scheduled to be held on the 8th of next month.
According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), besides others stalwarts, PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Shahzada Ghustasip Khan are contesting polls from NA-15 Mansehra.
PML-N K-P President Engr Amir Muqam filed his nomination papers for two National Assembly and one provincial seats, including his home district Shangla and Swat.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is trying luck in his home district – NA-44 Dera Ismail Khan where he will face Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi and former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The latter is contesting election as an independent candidate.
Gandapur had won 2018 election from the same constituency, while PPP’s Faisal Karim Kundi and Maulana Fazlur Rehman were elected in the past polls.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan is in the field for NA-10 Buner, Umar Ayub Khan for NA-18 Haripur, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaisar Khan for NA-19 Swabi, and Sher Afzal Marwat for NA-41 Lakki Marwat as independent candidates.
ANP's central senior vice president and former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti will contest for NA-22 Mardan, central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain for PK-89 in Nowshera, and senior leader Ghulam Ahmad Bilour for NA-32 in Peshawar.
ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan will contest for NA-25 in Charssadda, and provincial general secretary Sardar Hussain Babak for PK-27 Buner.
The PPP awarded tickets to its provincial president Najmuddin Khan for NA-5 Upper Dir, Anwar Saifullah Khan for NA-43 Tank, and Faisal Karim Kundi for NA-44, D I Khan.
Read Female voters hold key in K-P election
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir and former senator Sirajul Haq will contest the election for the National Assembly from his native Dir district, while K-P amir Prof Ibrahim will try his luck from PK-102 Bannu, and former senior provincial minister Inayatullah Khan for PK-13, Upper Dir.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarian (PTI-P) Chairman and former chief minister Pervez Khattak will contest the polls from NA-33 and PK-88 from his native district Nowshera.
On NA-33 Nowshera-I, a tough electoral battle is expected among Pervez Khattak, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber-Pakthunkhwa Information Secretary and former member provincial assembly, Ikhtair Wali Khan, Awami National Party’s Khan Pervez, Barrister Sarwar of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf and Ijazul Haq of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F.
A unique phenomenon of 2024 general election is the participation of all family members of PTIP chief, Pervez Khattak, including his son-in-law Dr Imran Khattak and his sons whose nomination papers were accepted for all the national and provincial assemblies’ seats.
Pervez Khattak filed nomination papers for NA-33, PK-87 and PK-88 while nomination papers of his nephew and son-in-law Dr Imran Khattak were accepted for NA-34 and PK-89 respectively.
Pervez Khattak’s sons Ibrahim Khattak and Ismail Khattak are contesting from PK-85 and PK-86, respectively. Former K-P Information Minister and Awami National Party leader, Mian Iftikhar Hussain is eying on PK-89 while PMLN’s Ikhtiyar Wali filed nomination papers for NA-33 and PK-88.
The papers of Awami National Party’s Khan Pervez, Barrister Sarwar Khan, Mustafa Anwar, Fayyazur Rahman of PML-N, Mufti Shakatullah and Ijazul Haq of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F were accepted for NA-33 Nowshera-1.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2024.
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