Internal rifts likely to divide PTI voters in Haripur
Party seniors to weigh in, smooth out differences.
PHOTO: FILE
HARIPUR:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) kicked off its election campaign in Hazara division after Imran Khan’s address on March 10, marking the end of intra-party elections.
Although the ticket-awarding process has yet to begin, candidates who are optimistic of representing the party are making frequent visits to elders of different tribes and influential figures who could help win votes.
The party might still face challenges in Hazara, especially Haripur district, during the polls due to internal differences, despite schmoosing for influence and, what political observers say is the ‘correct selection of electable candidates’ by the PTI chief.
Dr Raja Amir Zaman, the former district nazim and son of late parliamentarian Raja Sikandar Zaman, and Yousuf Ayub Khan, the grandson of former dictator Ayub Khan, are strong contenders according to the PTI workers and their own political supporters in NA-19 Haripur and KP-50 Haripur I.
Both used to be political rivals in the recent past; they are now considered candidates who could win seats for Khan’s party with little effort. However, internal bickering between the local leaders of the PTI is feared to negatively impact their election results.
Political observers claim former union nazim, Khurshid Anwar Khan, in KP-50 has differences with Yousuf Ayub Khan, the former provincial minister of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. They both filed applications for party tickets but Yousuf Ayub is slated to win more votes, and will most likely get the ticket.
Unfortunately Khurshid and Yousuf’s differences span decades, making it unlikely that either will rally supporters for the other. Khurshid Anwar, who is also a landlord from Shah Muhammad, had supported the outgoing provincial minister Qazi Asad Khan from KP-50 during the last election. Khan has defeated Yousuf Ayub and his brother twice in the past.
But now Khurshid Anwar has parted ways with Qazi Asad and openly challenged both Asad and Yousuf Ayub to contest elections against him.
Khurshid has a strong vote bank and Yousuf Ayub enjoys the support of a majority in the constituency, but the rift between them deepens as the PTI’s district president Kamal Ghaznavi is an opponent of Yousuf Ayub Khan.
“It is true that Khurshid Khan and Yousuf Ayub Khan could not sit together – the senior leadership is expected to iron out their differences very soon or at least make them obligated not to violate party discipline,” said a senior party leader of the division.
However, Faisal Zaman alias Jahazon Wala in KP-52 Haripur IV brings together the party and is strengthening his position against PML-N’s provincial president Pir Sabir Shah.
Another PTI leader requesting anonymity said the senior leadership of the party was cognizant of these issues and will resolve them amicably. “The party is in a very good position to win all the three seats in Haripur – NA-19, KP-50 and KP-52.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2013.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) kicked off its election campaign in Hazara division after Imran Khan’s address on March 10, marking the end of intra-party elections.
Although the ticket-awarding process has yet to begin, candidates who are optimistic of representing the party are making frequent visits to elders of different tribes and influential figures who could help win votes.
The party might still face challenges in Hazara, especially Haripur district, during the polls due to internal differences, despite schmoosing for influence and, what political observers say is the ‘correct selection of electable candidates’ by the PTI chief.
Dr Raja Amir Zaman, the former district nazim and son of late parliamentarian Raja Sikandar Zaman, and Yousuf Ayub Khan, the grandson of former dictator Ayub Khan, are strong contenders according to the PTI workers and their own political supporters in NA-19 Haripur and KP-50 Haripur I.
Both used to be political rivals in the recent past; they are now considered candidates who could win seats for Khan’s party with little effort. However, internal bickering between the local leaders of the PTI is feared to negatively impact their election results.
Political observers claim former union nazim, Khurshid Anwar Khan, in KP-50 has differences with Yousuf Ayub Khan, the former provincial minister of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. They both filed applications for party tickets but Yousuf Ayub is slated to win more votes, and will most likely get the ticket.
Unfortunately Khurshid and Yousuf’s differences span decades, making it unlikely that either will rally supporters for the other. Khurshid Anwar, who is also a landlord from Shah Muhammad, had supported the outgoing provincial minister Qazi Asad Khan from KP-50 during the last election. Khan has defeated Yousuf Ayub and his brother twice in the past.
But now Khurshid Anwar has parted ways with Qazi Asad and openly challenged both Asad and Yousuf Ayub to contest elections against him.
Khurshid has a strong vote bank and Yousuf Ayub enjoys the support of a majority in the constituency, but the rift between them deepens as the PTI’s district president Kamal Ghaznavi is an opponent of Yousuf Ayub Khan.
“It is true that Khurshid Khan and Yousuf Ayub Khan could not sit together – the senior leadership is expected to iron out their differences very soon or at least make them obligated not to violate party discipline,” said a senior party leader of the division.
However, Faisal Zaman alias Jahazon Wala in KP-52 Haripur IV brings together the party and is strengthening his position against PML-N’s provincial president Pir Sabir Shah.
Another PTI leader requesting anonymity said the senior leadership of the party was cognizant of these issues and will resolve them amicably. “The party is in a very good position to win all the three seats in Haripur – NA-19, KP-50 and KP-52.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2013.