File photo of Anwar Saifullah Khan. PHOTO: FILE
The NA-26 Bannu constituency was shaping up to be a tough contest between the heavyweights of two major parties, but Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Anwar Saifullah withdrew his papers on Saturday leaving the competition dry.
Saifullah, who is also the PPP’s provincial president, was contesting from the constituency against former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Akram Khan Durrani of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami’s provincial chief Muhammad Ibrahim Khan.
Saifullah’s spokesperson, Nighat Orakzai confirmed to The Express Tribune that the PPP’s provincial president had withdrawn his candidacy in favour of Maulana Naseem Ali Shah, who is contesting as an independent candidate after developing differences with his party, the JUI-F.
Saifullah will now be contesting for a provincial assembly seat from PK-75 Lakki Marwat-II against JUI-F candidate Munawar Khan. Munawar was elected an MPA from the PK-75 seat in the 2008 elections on a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket. He joined the JUI-F in 2012.
Maulana Naseem had problems with the JUI-F leadership for not being awarded a party ticket. Earlier, the party’s district leadership had included Naseem’s name among possible candidates for NA-26, however the ticket was later awarded to Akram.
In 2002, after the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s victory, Maulana Naseem’s father Maulana Naseeb Ali Shah won from NA-26 and received around 78,886 votes.
After the demise of Maulana Naseeb in 2007, the ticket was initially issued to his son Naseem, but later awarded to Akram Durrani’s son Ziad Akram Durrani who won the seat in the by-polls. Akram was the chief minister at the time. This time, when the JUI-F awarded the ticket to Akram, an infuriated Naseem rebelled from the party and decided to contest elections independently.
Lower Dir
Meanwhile, in Lower Dir district, 29 candidates withdrew their nomination papers for the national and provincial seats late on Saturday.
According to a final list issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, 14 candidates are contesting for NA-34, 10 for PK-94 and nine each for PK-95 and 96, while 13 people will contest from PK -97.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2013.
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@Taimoor Ali Khan: Valid points from sir Taimoor Ali Khan. I agree with you. If they had a Chief Ministry or Governorship, the province would be at a different level today.
What had Maulana done for his constituency when his party was in full control of the province (MMA government), that he would do now for Lucky constituency. Saifullah brothers have thoroughly remained the guardians of whole Marwat tribe and did a lot, A REAL LOT for the nation. Not to mention everything they had done, only employment of thousands of Marwats in Oil and Gas sector stands tall and always will. I pray this time Anwar Saifullah Khan become the Chief Minister of KPK province and then Lakki marwat would have its own medical college and engineering university Insha Allah. May Allah almighty succeed the true leaders of Marwat tribe with huge lead. Ameen.
In Shaa Allah! Salim Saifullah khan and Anwar Saifullah Khan will win the elections!!