JI’s supremacy threatened by opponents in Upper Dir

Joined by PML-N, tripartite alliance ready to sweat it out in Jamaat’s home ground

UPPER DIR: Political dynamics of the former princely state’s upper half are no different than those of the lower. The latest PK-95 by-polls in Lower Dir have only reaffirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami enjoys a reasonable monopoly over the region. Upper Dir’s three MPA berths and one NA berth are all occupied by the party’s representatives and it is likely to outrun opponents in the May 30 local government polls as well, given it withstands the pressure being mounted by its rivals.

To counter the Jamaat’s overarching influence, the tripartite alliance of K-P’s opposition parties – Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl – has joined hands with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and now the four-member group is all set to ambush the only dominating force in Upper Dir. A seat adjustment has already been finalised by the alliance in PK-91 and PK-92.

However, JI’s problems do not end at this. In PK-93, another test of nerves awaits the party as a coalition of different hopefuls, called the Awami Ittehad, has come to the fore. Wari tehsil council will likely be the toughest battleground for JI against this new mounting challenge. Similarly, JI’s coalition partner in the provincial government, PTI, is also likely to give the party a tough time as its candidates are contesting across the district.

As many as 3,535 candidates are participating in LG elections in Upper Dir. Talking to The Express Tribune, District Election Commissioner Amjad Ali said around 370,366 voters will cast ballots in 32 union councils of Upper Dir. Sharing details of candidates, the official said 246 hopefuls are vying for district councils and 222 for tehsil councils. Furthermore, 1,608 candidates are in the run for general seats, 542 for youth seats, 592 for peasant seats and 319 for women seats.

The district election commissioner said Upper Dir’s 278 polling stations will consist of 759 polling booths. Ali said 10 additional stations have been demarcated for women.

The issue of women’s suffrage has remained controversial in the region’s electoral history. The latest example was seen during by-polls in the neighbouring district.

On the flipside, neighbourhood council candidate Anila Shaheen is confident of her prospects of victory despite the odds. “No one can encroach upon a right granted to women by the Constitution,” she maintained.

Security arrangements are also under way and areas will be divided into categories of normal, sensitive and highly-sensitive zones. With nearly two weeks left on the calendar, election campaigns are in full swing. Candidates are employing all resources at their disposal.

A drive around the district’s major roads will give an ideal introduction of the who’s who of Upper Dir. Banners and posters stand tall while most walls shout slogans for this hopeful or the other.

Candidates Irfan Ali Shah Bukhari and Aliman Shah told The Express Tribune they have put up posters everywhere and even advertised in local newspapers.

Both were of the view that social media is a cheaper option for reaching out to their voters and that they are using their accounts on different social networks to full use.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2015.