The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)’s District Long-term Observers (DLTOs) observed at least 39 districts between March 1 and 21 and identified 47 political developments related to upcoming elections, says a press release issued by FAFEN on Thursday.
DLTOs identified 24 significant political developments in KP, followed by 10 in Sindh, five each in Punjab as well as FATA and three in Balochistan.
The developments pertain to at least 12 political parties and independent candidates. The parties are the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami, the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement , the Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded , the Awami National Party, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the Balochistan National Party-Mengal, the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan and the Awami Muslim League.
They observed a total of 47 political developments or early campaigning activities in 39 districts. The most developments and campaigning activities were reported in 18 districts of KP (24 developments/incidents), followed by nine districts of Sindh (10 developments), four districts of Punjab and five in FATA and three developments in three districts of Balochistan.
FAFEN observers recorded nine activities in districts related to the PTI that can be construed as early campaigning or political developments. These activities were reported in KP, Punjab and FATA.
A total of six election-related activities or developments of the PML-N were recorded in six districts. The JUI-F arranged four political activities in KP.
The JUI-S announced the names of contesting candidates in Lakki Marwat. Yousaf Shah will contest from NA-27, Hidayatullah from KP-74, Kalu Khan from KP-75 and Habibullah Haqqani from KP-76.
Former MNA Sardar Mushtaq, who recently switched from PML-N to PPPP, started election campaign in Haripur. Tough competition is expected in NA-19 between the PPPP and a joint candidate of the JUI-F and PML-N.
In Mirpurkhas, the PML-LM nominated Zahid Hussain Marri to contest from NA- 226, Arbab Inayatullah from PS-66, former senator Ghaffar Qureshi from PS-64 and Zulifqar Shah from PS-65.
The PML-Functional finalised the names of candidates for one NA and three PA seats in Umerkot and forwarded them to the PML-F chairman for approval. For PS-68, the names of Haji Ali Bukhsh Mangrio, Hashmi Memon and Bhamro Mal Malhi were recommended.
The leaders of ANP – Afrasiab Khattak, Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Mohsin Ali – attended the inaugural ceremony of Khushal Khan Khattak University in Karak (KP).
In Tribal Area (XII-FRs), the ANP hosted a jirga to finalise Shahi Khan as the candidate to contest from NA-47. In Lakki Marwat, the ANP announced candidates for various constituencies. Ali Sarwar Khan from NA-27, Sadar Uddin Khan from PK-74, Ibrahim Khan from PK-75 and Humayun Khan Begu Khel will contest from PK-76.
In Panjgur, the BNP-M held a meeting to discuss election strategy and concluded that the party leadership would finalise whether to participate in the election or boycott it.
Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan Chairman Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan visited Charasdda to kick off election campaign. He nominated Peer Aftab as party candidate to contest from PK-18 seat. This is the first nomination made by the party SO FAR.
The MQM organised a meeting with the Gujjar community in Shah Faisal Town Karachi and managed to win the community’s support for its candidate in NA-256.
In Rawalpindi, the Awami Muslim League (AML) held two public gatherings in NA-55 and NA-56. In Orakzai Agency, a potential independent candidate Ajmal Khan arranged a grand jirga with the Malik and Shaikhan tribes, urging them to support him in the elections. In Khyber Agency, a potential candidate from NA-45 Shahjee Gul funded the repair of pavements and clean drinking water scheme in order to get the support of voters.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri addressed a gathering in Rawalpindi and announced that his party would boycott the general elections.
