The JUI-F elects its provincial ameer and general secretary for a period of three years via secret balloting by members of the party’s provincial general council. PHOTO: FILE
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) intra-party polls for the provincial offices of the party are likely to be held on June 26.
Most of the district and tribal chapters of the party have elected office-bearers with the exception of Swat, Kohistan, Mardan, Tank, Lower Dir and South Waziristan.
According to those familiar with the matter, two groups are vying for the provincial offices. The JUI-F elects its provincial ameer and general secretary for a period of three years via secret balloting by members of the party’s provincial general council. The rest of the cabinet members are appointed by elected office-bearers.
Sources say one team contending for the two posts comprises current General Secretary Maulana Mohammad Qasim (for the position of ameer) and provincial vice ameer Maulana Attaur Rehman (for general secretary). The other group has former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) ameer Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan vying for the position of ameer but Naseeb has not nominated anyone as a candidate for the general secretary position. However, the names of former MPA from Mansehra, Mufti Kifayatullah, and former MNA from Mardan, Maulana Shujul Mulk, are being floated. The latter has also been elected district general secretary for Mansehra.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s son Asad Mehmood has been suggested by some as the K-P general secretary, but Fazal has not allowed the candidature.
Naseeb’s supporters have won many positions in the district elections, including all the important ones in Peshawar where Maulana Khairul Bashar became the district ameer and Maulana Amanullah the general secretary.
“Gul Naseeb is likely to become the next JUI-F K-P ameer,” said one insider.
On Sunday, Kohistan MPA Maulana Asmatullah, the party’s election commissioner, issued a notification about the newly-elected district posts. The remaining districts are likely to be polled before June 26, said the notification.
District-wide: The winners are
Maulana Muhmmad Hashim was elected as the ameer from Charsadda, Mufti Sajjad from Nowshera, Maulana Attaul Haq from Swabi, Maulana Lutfur Rehman from DI Khan, Qari Abdullah from Bannu, Maulana Abdul Hai from Kohat, Hafiz Ibn-e-Amin from Karak, Mufti Din Asghar from Hangu, Maulana Abdur Rahim from Lakki Marwat, Maulana Moeenul Haq from Torghar, Maulana Fazl Azeem from Upper Dir, Maulana Abdur Rehman Qureshi from Chitral, Maulana Rahat Hussain from Shangla, Syed Hidayatullah Shah from Mansehra, Maulana Shakilur Rehman from Abbottabad, Syed Pir Alamzeb Shah from Haripur, Mufti Fazal Ghafoor from Buner, Mufti Kifayatullah from Malakand and Qari Mohammad Yousaf from Battagram.
From the agencies, Maulana Mohammad Arif became the ameer for Mohmand, Mufti Ijaz Shinwari for Khyber, Akhund Asmatullah for Kurram, Mualana Faizur Rehman for Orakzai and Maulana Ainullah for Mehsud area of Waziristan.
The JUI-F spokesperson could not be contacted for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2014.
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