PTI’s 2018 glory faces test in new battles

 As the political tempest swirls and the upcoming February 8 general elections draw near, the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) finds itself at the epicentre of a shifting political landscape, with its political fortunes likely to experience an unusual scenario in its own stronghold, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Rewind to the 2018 elections, the party’s tsunami had ripped through most constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), leaving national leaders and heavyweights in the dust. However, a lot has changed since former prime minister Imran Khan's ouster, with the party reduced to a shadow of its former self.

While all eyes were on Imran Khan, the PTI secured an impressive 36 out of 51 National Assembly seats in the provincial and tribal districts in the 2018 elections.

The political battlefield witnessed stunning defeats for heavyweight contenders, including former premier Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami emir Sirajul Haq, and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.

The MMA secured 7 seats, PML-N managed three, while PPP and ANP each claimed one, while three independent candidates were successful.

The electoral race saw surprising defeats, with JUI-F emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N’s Engineer Amir Muqam tasting defeat in two seats each. Even heavyweights like Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stumbled in the challenging terrains of the Malakand Division.

Meanwhile, ANP’s Asfandyar Wali Khan and Qaumi Watan Party’s Aftab Sherpao, along with Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sirajul Haq, faced setbacks in Dir. JUI-F’s Akram Durrani in Bannu lost despite garnering over 100,000 votes.

In the heart of Peshawar, senior politician Ghulam Bilour succumbed to defeat against Shaukat Ali, while Governor Haji Ghulam Ali and former advisor Asma Arbab Alamgir also faced setbacks. However, heavyweights Asad Qaiser and Pervez Khattak emerged victorious, adding to the PTI's triumph.

The nail-biting contests continued, with former chief minister Amir Haider Hoti narrowly defeated by PTI’s Atif Khan, leaving a bitter aftertaste in the political arena. Meanwhile, Khattak's son-in-law celebrated victory, and Ali Amin Gandapur secured success in DI Khan.
Similarly, PTI's Saleem Rehman defeated Shehbaz Sharif in Swat while PTI's Murad Saeed emerged victorious in the battlefield of NA-4 Swat-III and Sahibzada Sibghatullah claimed NA-5 Upper Dir.

Moreover, PTI's Mehboob Shah secured victory in NA-6 Lower Dir, while former PPP provincial general secretary Ahmed Hassan faced a defeat.

NA-7 Dir Lower witnessed a showdown where PTI's Muhammad Bashir Khan emerged victorious, defeating JI emir Sirajul Haq. The drama continued in NA-8 Malakand as PTI's Junaid Akbar defeated heavyweights Bilawal Bhutto and JUI-F's Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan.

PTI's Sher Akbar Khan celebrated a win in NA-9 Buner, but in NA-10 Shangla, Ibadullah Khan of PML-N, and brother of Engineer Amir Makam, secured the victory for his party.

A riveting competition unfolded in NA-13 Mansehra-I, where independent candidate Saleh Muhammad triumphed over Sardar Shah Jahan Yusuf, later joining PTI after a fierce contest. Meanwhile, in NA-14 Mansehra, PML-N's Muhammad Sajjad defeated Zargul Khan and MMA's Mufti Kifayatullah.

In NA-15 Abbottabad I, former deputy speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi emerged victorious against Ali Asghar Khan, son of Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, and the current provincial general secretary of PTI.

The momentum continued with PTI's Ali Khan Jadoon securing NA-16 Abbottabad-II, Umar Ayub Khan winning NA-17 Haripur, and former speaker of National Assembly Asad Qaiser triumphing in NA-18 Swabi-I.

PTI's Usman Khan Tarakai secured NA-19 Swabi-II, while Mujahid Ali of PTI defeated former federal minister Nawabzada Khawaja Hoti in NA-20 Mardan-I.

NA-21 Mardan witnessed a gripping contest, with ANP's Amir Haider Khan Hoti clinching victory over PTI's Atif Khan by a mere 152 votes.

In NA-22 Mardan-III, PTI's Ali Muhammad Khan defeated MMA's Maulana Muhammad Qasim, and in NA-23 Charsada-I, PTI's Anwar Taj outpaced QWP’s chief Aftab Sherpao.

In Charsadda, Fazal Mohammad Khan of PTI in NA-24 defeated ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan and former MNA Maulana Muhammad Gohar Shah.

Moving on, in NA-25 Nowshera-I, Pervez Khattak, the incumbent chairman of PTI-Parliamentarians, secured victory. His son-in-law Imran Khattak triumphed over Asif Luqman Qazi on a PTI ticket in NA-26 Nowshera-II.

In NA-27 Peshawar-I, Noor Alam Khan defeated the current governor, Haji Ghulam Ali, who contested on the MMA ticket, while Asma Alamgir faced defeat in the same constituency.

PTI's Shaukat Ali emerged victorious in a fierce contest against senior politician Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on NA-31 Peshawar-IV. The excitement continued in NA-32 Kohat, where PTI's Shehryar Afridi defeated former senator Abbas Afridi, and in NA-33 Hangu, PTI's Khayal Zaman Orakzai triumphed over Atiqur Rehman.

Meanwhile, in NA-34 Karak, PTI's Shahid Ahmad defeated former president Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan. The spotlight then shifted to the intense battle on NA-35 Bannu, where PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan defeated Akram Khan Durrani, the former chief minister, in a nail-biting contest.

MMA's Muhammad Anwar secured victory in NA-36 Lakki Marwat, and Maulana Asad Mehmood, son of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, triumphed in NA-37 Tank.

However, Maulana Fazlur Rehman himself faced defeat in two seats, losing to PTI's Ali Amin Gandapur on NA-38 Dera Ismail Khan-I, where PPP’s Faisal Karim Kundi also tasted defeat.

In NA-39 Dera Ismail Khan-II, Muhammad Yaqoob Shaikh of PTI sealed the victory.