Another chance to shine: With two provincial seats up for grabs, Swat braces for re-polling

Disqualification of PML-N lawmaker over fake degree, termination of results over bar on women voting leads to round 2.

With two provincial seats up for grabs, Swat braces for re-polling. PHOTO: EXPRESS

SWAT:


Politicking has picked up pace in the scenic and politically volatile Swat Valley following recent decisions by election tribunals calling for re-elections in two of the seven provincial assembly seats of the district.


A by-election on PK-86 was ordered on January 9 this year after the election tribunal disqualified the winning candidate from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for submitting a fake degree, whereas re-polling in selected constituencies of PK-81 was ordered when the runner up candidate provided proof of rigging at some polling stations during the May 2013 general elections. Even though the election commission is yet to announce a date for re-polling for either of the provincial assembly seats, voters are keenly observing the political developments in the area: the most recent one former Awami National Party (ANP) leader from PK-86 Dr Haider Ali Khan’s jumping ship to the governing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Activists of all political parties of the area are waiting to relaunch the campaigning process as soon as parties announce their respective candidates, but even then, political activities are in full swing as workers try to woo voters into their respective camps.

Voters in both constituencies, especially PK-86, are expecting a tough contest amid all the political moving and shaking. However, it is too early to predict results as the polling dates have not been announced.

PK-81



The victory of PTI’s Azizullah Khan in the May 2013 general elections was challenged by the runner-up from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Habib Ali Shah, who filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court stating women were not allowed to cast votes in several polling stations in the constituency.

In response to his application, the court ordered re-polling in all polling stations across the constituency where women’s votes were not cast.


Sources in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) shared that 41 polling booths were marked for re-polls in 22 polling stations across the constituency where women were stopped from participating. The ECP also terminated the election victory of Azizullah. Candidates from both parties, which can be considered arch rivals, have beefed up their campaign to secure the maximum number of votes whenever the date is set by the election commission. PK-81 was won by Azizullah with 13, 045 votes while Shah secured 11, 635 votes.

According to the ECP, the total number of registered women voters in the 41 polling booths is 3,600. Locals believe Shah has better chances at grabbing the seat as he enjoys support of the JUI-F, ANP and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

PK-86



In contrast, election fever is higher for this seat, which covers the upper areas of Swat, as Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ordered by-polls throughout the constituency after the winning candidate’s degree credentials were proven to have been falsified.

PML-N’s Qaimoos Khan secured the seat after beating ANP’s Haider Ali Khan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Ali Shah, both of whom later approached the election tribunal alleging Qaimoos’ degree was fake.  After its own investigation, the tribunal concluded the same and terminated his assembly membership.

As all is fair in love and politics, ANP recently suffered a huge setback when its leading candidate and former MPA Haider crossed over to PTI. However, his move resulted in the shunning of PTI’s old guard and candidate Muhammad Zeb Khan, which created a rift between old and new party workers.

Local analysts believe the ANP’s chances are dim following Haider’s move, especially considering that by-polls are to be announced soon.

This is probably why ANP, JUI-F and PPP are likely to nominate a joint candidate to defeat Haider in PK-86 and the name of Shah is reportedly under consideration as he is the strongest candidate. The disqualified MPAs brother and former union council nazim Sardar Khan is likely to be the PML-N candidate.

According to the ECP’s website, there were 134,614 registered voters in PK-86 out of which 49,454 voted on May 11, 2013. Qaimoos won with 10,687 votes, followed by Shah’s 10,302 and Haider’s 10,028.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2014.
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