As the February 8 elections are fast approaching, Balakot has witnessed the entry of several new faces in the political arena side by side traditional and inherited politics. Syed Junaid Ali Qasim, son of former federal minister Alhaj Syed Qasim Shah; Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah, son of former senator Syed Muzamil Shah; and Mian Ziaur Rehman, son of former MPA Mian Waliur Rehman are currently in the electoral battle.
However, new faces who are contesting the general elections include Sadiq Durrani of Milli Muslim League, independent candidate Munir Hussain Laghmani Advocate, Musab Umeer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and other independent candidates.
Read Political analysts say people being disenfranchised from political process
Syed Qasim Shah has been in politics since 1982 and has served in the District Council and as a provincial minister and a federal minister. His son Syed Mazhar Qasim was also elected MPA in 2003. Now his (Qasim) second son Syed Junaid Qasim, who has also been a former Tehsil Nazim, is in the run for the provincial assembly seat.
Syed Muzamil Shah has also been a member of the Senate and a provincial minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2024.
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