These power hungry politicians are using their political and pecuniary influence. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS
Almost all former and sitting parliamentarians from the region have fielded their sons and close relatives in five districts of Hazara Division for the May local government elections. These power hungry politicians are using their political and pecuniary influence to ensure the success of their candidates, though, not openly.
Abbottabad
An interesting contest seems to be emerging between archrivals Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan and former federal minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon. Mehtab fielded his son former MPA Sardar Shamoon Yar Khan for the district council seat from Palak union council (UC) as PML-N’s nominee, while Amanullah Jadoon, a senior PML-Quaid leader, has fielded his younger son Ali Khan Jadoon.
Shamoon Khan and Ali Jadoon would be facing each other for the district nazim slot, like their fathers did before them.
Similarly, PTI district president Sardar Sher Bahadur and Sardar Waqar Nabi, son of the late provincial minister Sardar Ghulam Nabi Khan, have also filed papers for a district council seat.
Haripur
The prominent Ayub family has avoided fielding blood relatives as Omar Ayub, the elder son of former foreign minister Gohar Ayub is already an MNA, while his cousin Akbar Ayub is serving as adviser to the chief minister.
However, Riaz Ahmed Khan from Rehana UC and Shahid Amin Khan from Shumali UC Haripur, who have filed their papers for district councillors, are close aides of Omar Ayub and Akbar Ayub.
Former PML-N MNA Sardar Mushtaq Khan has fielded his younger brother Sardar Haroon Khan for district council seat from Kot Najibullah.
Sons of late CM Raja Sikandar Zaman, former MNA Dr Raja Amir Zaman and his brother PML-N’s sitting MPA Raja Faisal Zaman, have no close relatives to support due to reported differences within the family. But both brothers are secretly lending support to their close aides in different UCs.
Similarly, Sahibzada Hamid Shah, the paternal nephew of PML-N’s K-P chief Pir Sabir Shah, is contesting the district council seat. QWP’s MPA Gohar Nawaz has also fielded his paternal nephew, Samiullah Khan, a new entrant in politics.
Mansehra
Nawabzada Salahuddin Khan, former MNA and PTI leader from Tanawal, has fielded his son Nawabzada Farid Khan for seat in the Oghi tehsil council. Farid is one of the descendants of Nawabs of the now defunct princely state of Amb in Hazara.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousuf has introduced his younger son Sardar Liaqat, an NGO activist and contractor. Liaqat would contest on a PML-N ticket from Battal UC. Although a political novice, he enjoys the support of his father’s supporters and is likely to be a contender for the district nazim slot.
From the large Swati tribe, former JUI-F MNA Laiq Muhammad Khan has fielded his son Sher Yar Khan as a candidate for the district council on a PTI ticket from their native Kathai UC. Sher Yar is the paternal nephew of PTI provincial president Azam Swati and is likely to contest against federal minister Sardar Yousuf’s son for the district nazim seat.
Moreover, from Kaghan ex-federal minister Syed Muzamil Shah has fielded his son Syed Akhtar Shah as candidate for district council. Being a close relative of PML-N Senator Lieutenant General (retd) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Akhtar enjoys the support of the Tirmizis.
Torghar
JUI-F MPA Zareen Gul and his rival group of former provincial minister Haji Namroz Khan have also fielded their relatives for different seats to ensure their hold on the tehsil and district tiers of local government. Gul’s brothers Shireen Khan and Nehmat Gul Khan are candidates for the seat of district councillor, while Nasir Khan, the son of former ANP leader Haji Namroz Khan, is also in the run for the seat of district councillor on an ANP ticket.
Other districts
The Tarands, Tailoos, Thakots and Prince Nawaz, Battagram’s main political groups, have also fielded candidates from within their families. However, LG polls will not be held in Kohistan because its bifurcation is sub judice in the Peshawar High Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2015.
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