Commanders of banned militant groups and their affiliates are focusing their energies on supporting likeminded politicians during the upcoming general elections in order to safeguard their future.
Through reliable sources, Pakistan Today has learnt that senior commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are framing strategies for ensuring the victory of their sponsored candidates in the elections. In this regard, the TTP leaders are in touch with rightwing politicians on supporting likeminded candidates from all 12 seats of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as well as from the seven districts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sources informed that last year in summer, TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud had chaired a meeting of influential clerics from Bakakhel – a town connecting Bannu with North Waziristan. The latest round of the meeting was held in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency. The participants of the meeting included representatives of various groups supporting the idea of supporting likeminded colleagues who could secure their common interests in the parliament.
The idea of electing likeminded or politicians is not new, as it was first witnessed in the 2008 general elections. However, with the exception of a few, most of the fielding candidates had failed. Even in the 2008 general elections some of the candidates, including those affiliated with popular political parties, paid a huge amount to Taliban militants for not attacking them and their gatherings.
In comparison with the previous elections, some of the tribal MPs are facing hardships in mustering Taliban’s support. A number of tribal MPAs have assured self-styled commanders and leaders of protecting their interests, especially opposing military action against them. But in reaction, the militants have threatened them of carrying out attacks as well as abducting their close relatives for ransom.
The leaders of the Awami National Party (ANP) have been accusing the Taliban over the last several months of first attempting to sabotage the election process and later supporting their favourites in the election. According to ANP leaders, such blue-eyed or likeminded politicians will not only be from religious parties but a majority of them would contest polls as independent candidates.