The 2008 elections were also the first time the ANP formed a government since its inception. PHOTO: SAMEER RAZIQ/EPXRESS
The chief minister’s announcement to seek a National Assembly ticket against a provincial assembly one is a setback for activists of the Awami National Party (ANP). His decision made one thing clear - the party, which secured a landmark victory in 2008, knows that this time the provincial government may not be there’s to take.
The 2013 general elections are crucial for the ANP, whose founder Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan) started the Khudai Khidmatgar movement in 1929. It will be contesting after being the first party to complete a five-year tenure. The 2008 elections were also the first time the ANP formed a government since its inception.
To the ANP’s credit, it succeeded in changing the name of the province to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), but the common perception is that people continued to suffer at the hands of a poor administration, weakening law and order and rampant corruption.
The government, however, took some adequate steps in improving communication and strengthening infrastructure in the province. It also established a number of educational institutions in Mardan, Swabi, Chitral, Karak and Malakand. Similarly, the Naway Sahar Laptop Scheme, which was launched as the government’s tenure comes to an end, was much welcomed students.
The focus of development remained on Hoti’s hometown Mardan but adjoining districts also received their share in the process. Additionally, the government started work on 20 small dams by utilising the province’s share from the net hydel profit.
In Malakand in particular, and in other parts of the province in general, security affairs remained relatively under control. However, the same could not be said about the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and law and order still remained far from satisfactory.
On the election front
The ANP’s strongholds remain Peshawar, Swabi, and Nowshera.
Opposition parties will have to join hands to give the ANP a tough game in these areas. For instance, if the Jamiat Ulema-a-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Tarakai family agree on an alliance, it can create problems for the party in Swabi district. On the other hand a JUI-F, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) alliance can also be dangerous for the ANP in other districts.
The solo flight of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will work for the benefit of the ANP because both the PTI and PPP will only bite into opposition groups’ vote bank.
The JUI-F and then Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao (renamed Qaumi Watan Party) contested polls separately in 2008. However their alliance defeated Asfandyar in 2002. If the same alliance resurfaces in the next polls, it will not be an easy ride for the party president.
The ANP pins many hopes on Charsadda but it will face a major setback in Kohat. There the provincial minister, Amjid Afridi, has not only refused the party’s ticket but has formed his own independent group, backed by Federal Minister Abbas Afridi. Insiders in the party allege he parted ways after threats from the Taliban.
Down south
The ANP candidates will have to be on top of their game while campaigning in the southern districts of the province. However, in Tank, the party has high hopes for two strong candidates, Habibullah Kundi and Mureed Kazim.
There is also an air of optimism the party will bag a seat from Chitral and Upper Dir, where the JI and PTI’s popularity cannot be ignored. In Kohistan, the party hedges its bets by counting on Sajjad Khan’s influential family headed by Ubaidullah – he contested the last by-elections on the ANP’s symbol.
The ANP position in Battagram cannot be underestimated where Tarand family is known for winning its ‘native seat’ for the party. However, Gohar Nawaz Khan from Haripur, who did not win in the past on an ANP ticket, has won a seat as an independent candidate. Likewise, the higher education minister is perhaps not keen to fight elections from the ANP’s platform.
The expected alliance of JUI-F and PML-N for general polls caught the party think tank by a nasty surprise. This has doubled the ANP head honchos’ responsibility to deal with election-tickets process in a candid manner and to maintain unity in its ranks.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2013.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Was it on 14 Feb ? Than Y Red Red??
time for pti in kpk has arrived