PESHAWAR – Winning the by-elections on two provincial assembly seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become a challenge for the PPP-led coalition government and Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti is currently building up consensus between the two coalition partners.
The PK-69 Tank seat was left vacant a year back following resignation of Jamiat Ul Ulema Islam’s Gulistan Betani on health grounds and by-election in this constituency were delayed because to violence and insurgency in the area. Rifts between PPP and Awami National Party are also considered another reason for the delay.
In November last, Pakistan Muslim League (QA) MPA from PK-87 Haji Mohammad Zahir Shah died and the seat fell vacant. Election Commission then announced schedule for by elections. By elections on PK 87 will be held on January 29 and on PK 69 in February. Leaders of both the coalition parties agreed on an adjustment formula for joint contestation and the ANP’s candidate was nominated for PK 87 and a PPP’s candidate was appointed for PK 69.
Mohammad Yar Khan of ANP will face PML (QA) Mohammad Irshad, JUI (F) Rahat Hussain, Jamaat Islami’s Fida Mohammad and several others on PK 87. Mohammad Irshad is son of late MPA Haji Mohammad Zahir Shah. The families of both Mohammad Irshad and Mohammad Yar Khan are engaged in a blood feud since a long time.
Whereas PPP’s Dawar Khan Kundi will face JUI(F) Ghulam Qadar Betani on PK 69. The ANP announced withdrawal of its nominee Habib Ullah Khan Kundi from the same constituency without consulting him and he is now likely to enter into a deal with the JUI(F) or other candidates, which might be harmful for PPP and ANP joint candidate.
The PML (QA)’s candidate, Amir Muqam, is known for investing heavily in elections and politics and is likely to be supported by JUI (F). Muqam will also seek reconciliation with Habib Ullah Khan Kundi, which will cause problems for the PPP-ANP joint candidate. ANP’s Mohammad Yar Khan also seems in trouble in Shangla because Muqam has joined hands with PPP-Sherpao and the ANP candidate is backed by PML-N and PPP.
The PML(N) nominee Wiqar Ul Mulk has already withdrawn his nomination and announced his weight in favour of ANP-PPP joint candidate. It is likely that Tehrik Taliban can influence and help JUI(F) candidate win in Tank. In February 2008 general elections, the JUI(F) had sweeped polls in both the national and provincial assemblies in Tank. Compared to Tank, situation in Shangla is hostile for JUI-F.
