Election controversy: FATA Senate polls put spotlight on alleged nepotism

PML-N MNA in Bajaur claims boycotting was his only option.

SHABQADAR: The election of four new senators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to the Upper House has raised serious concerns over alleged nepotism in the polling process.

Last week, Sajid Hussain Tori, Aurangzeb Khan, Taj Muhammad Afridi and Haji Momin Khan Afridi were elected as new senators from the tribal belt.

Only National Assembly members from the area were allowed to elect Senate members from the semi-autonomous tribal belt. With one National Assembly seat from Fata left vacant, there were only 11 voters to elect these four Senators. However, four MNAs boycotted the polls, leaving seven others to elect the senators.

Election of the senators has drawn attention to the role of wealth and family connections in the polls.

Taj Muhammad is the younger brother of business tycoon and Khyber Agency MNA Al Haj Shahjee Gul Afridi, who is the executive director of Al Haj group of industries.

Haji Momin Khan is the brother of MNA Nasir Khan Afridi of Bara in Khyber Agency. Nasir Afridi has vast businesses across the country, including markets, plaza, petrol pumps and property businesses in Peshawar. Sajid Hussain is the brother of an MNA from Kurram Valley. Aurangzeb Khan, meanwhile, is a close associate of MNA GG Jamal of Orakzai.

Without an option

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA in Bajaur Agency Shahabuddin Khan justified his decision to boycott the Senate polls in light of these developments. According to Khan, he had no option.

“Even if we had participated in the polls, our votes would have little or no value,” he said. “After the elections, it has become apparent that six independent MNAs from Fata enjoy an upper hand and have elected the four senators in an arbitrary manner.”

This arbitrary power given to Fata MNAs has been vehemently criticised as it leads to contestants ‘buying’ votes.

Before the voting process began, the PML-N tried to address this problem. They were planning to introduce a presidential order to curtail the voting powers of Fata members to one vote each. However, the move backfired due to its timing.

Speaking about the order, Khan said it would have introduced a system of checks and balances and ironed out the rough edges in the election process. “However, the government appears to have taken a step back from meeting our demands,” he added.

Questions and answers

More often than not, MNAs have repeatedly favoured their own family members and close associates in Senate elections in Fata.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, PPP’s Akhunzada Chitan, an MNA in the previous government, said it has become difficult for members of the public to be elected to the Senate.

“In order to be elected, a person must have money,” he said. “All four senators have paid at least Rs300 million. They also have close relations with the MNAs who have elected them.”

According to Gul Muhammad Mohmand, a journalist, MNAs are more likely to elect their family members rather than outsiders as the practice guarantees their victory in the general elections.

The problem has its roots in the overall process of conducting the polls. Moreover, the entire assembly, rather than a tiny pocket of MNAs, should elect senators to avoid favouritism and nepotism, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2015.