Battle for PK-95, Lower Dir-II :JI takes narrow win over ANP in by-polls

Unofficial results show Izazul Mulk Afkari beat Haji Bahadur Khan by 2,300 votes

TIMERGARA:

Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Izazul Mulk Afkari narrowly edged out Awami National Party’s Haji Bahadur Khan in the by-election for PK-95, Lower Dir-II by securing 18,711 votes compared to his rival’s 16,403. Not surprisingly, none of the women came out to cast their ballots, something other parties—like the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf—were quick to point out.

After the count concluded in all 85 polling stations of the constituency, JI was declared the winner. However, all results were unofficial till the filing of this report.

ANP’s contentions

ANP’s local leaders raised objections over the fact that 90% of the polling staff deputed by the election commission was local. The party claimed most of ANP’s votes were rejected in one way or another, including 90 ANP votes rejected from a single polling station.

It was also learnt some representatives of ANP were sitting with the returning officer and asking him to recount votes in their presence. Leaders said they will contest the fact that women were “not allowed” to vote and the rejection of ballots before the election tribunal.

ANP leaders said JI is in the government and claimed the latter distributed Zakat funds and other facilities among residents, but still could not maintain its victory margin from the 2013 general elections. Stalwarts said it was a “decent showing” by their party, proof the party has not lost its reputation in the district.

The election commenced according to schedule in the constituency and continued without interval till 5pm.

In the 2013 general elections, JI chief Sirajul Haq stood for the PK-95 seat and defeated ANP candidate and former provincial minister Hidayatullah by 12,000 votes. Haq vacated the seat when he won a senate berth in 2015.

Any ladies in the house?

The total number of men registered to vote was 86,000, while the count for women was 54,000. There were 179 booths for men and 85 for women.

According to locals, there was a significant turnout of men, but no women could be seen. Some believed this transpired due to a hidden agreement between elders of the contesting candidates.

In the 2013 general elections, parties agreed not to allow women to vote as there were reports “female suicide bombers would target polling stations”.

JI Spokesperson Israrullah told The Express Tribune his party is in favour of women voting and their participation in the political process. The spokesperson said perhaps “cultural restraints” kept women at home. “We do not know about any decision taken to this effect,” he added.

ANP parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak told The Express Tribune women of Lower Dir district traditionally never came out to vote.

He said they could have been convinced to vote if there were separate polling stations for them. He added the election commission was not serious about women voting in the area otherwise separate polling stations would have been established. He also denied any agreement among the contesting parties on the subject of women voters.

Strict security

The K-P government made massive security arrangements at polling stations and on the roads leading up to them to thwart any untoward incident.

While there were some minor brawls and scuffles, no major incident was reported and the election went on in a peaceful manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2015.