The emergence of politics of an intriguing nature, based on alliances, have stimulated the electioneering campaigns in at least four southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), whereas the JUI-F chief Fazlur Rahman and the PPP’s candidate Anwar Saifullah Khan have surfaced as the main rivals in the forthcoming general elections.
This particular rivalry is not only responsible for exploiting the minutest of options available, but has also pushed the players to the extent to even make friends with old foes, just to ensure complete political isolation of each other. The implementation of such tactics has also been attributed to the hunger to extract memorable victories out of the historic elections. Surprisingly, when it comes to winning sympathies and purchasing loyalties of electorates and candidates alike, the concept of legal or halal has no value during the elections.
The KP’s southern districts – Dera Ismail Khan (DIK), Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Tank – have been playing a key role in local politics. Since 1947, at least three dignitaries belonging from here have served as the KP chief ministers, whereas a late politician was speaker of the provincial assembly. From among the present dignitaries, one from this region was deputy speaker of provincial assembly. Another very influential bureaucrat, late Ghulam Ishaq Khan, also belonged to this part of the province.
The Saifullahs, Kabirs and Kamal (late Anwar Kamal) from Lakki Marwat, Fazl, Ali Zai, Kundi’s Gandhapurs, Qasorya and Miankhel from DIK, Kundis from both Tank and DIK, and Durranis and Wazirs from Bannu are amongst the most influential families. In the recent past, the Saifullahs have had complete domination over both Bannu and Lakki Marwat, but presently they are losing influence in Bannu, thus providing a window of opportunity to the settler Durrani family to enhance their influence. The rise of Akram Khan Durrani is considered a good enough example of fluctuating regional trends.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the late 1970s the area had remained a stronghold of the PPP and on those grounds late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had challenged late Maulana Mufti Mehmood in the 1977 general elections. Things changed when in the 1980s almost all leading families came together in favour of military dictator Zia-ul-Haq. The PML-N subsequently maintained its popularity in all these four districts from 1988 till 1998. Local political culture changed once more when some present influential families like Saifullahs, Miankhels, Kundis and Gandhapurs backed dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharaf. In the 2002 general elections, a rightist political alliance – the MMA – surprised all in these southern districts. Nevertheless, results remained scattered in the 2008 general elections.
Prior to announcement of election schedule, three main political forces, including the PPP, the JUI-F and the PML-N have maintained contact on the leadership level to secure electoral alliances and seat adjustments. Obviously Maulana Fazal has been the main focus of such hobnobbing. However similar efforts undertaken on the part of Anwar Saifullah have placed serious hurdles for the politician in his native area Lakki Marwat, whereas his prospects seem better in DIK. Furthermore, PPP’s Waqar Ahmad Khan has also succeeded in mustering support of several political parties and individuals. In Tank, Faisal Karim Khan Kundi is making his position stable, while in Bannu, JI’s Prof Ibrahim Khan is posing a real threat to former KPK chief minister Akram Durrani.
In a bid to solidify his position, Fazl is contesting from three out of four NA seats, whereas he is fielding younger brother Lutfur Rahman on two provincial assembly seats from DIK. Lutaf and Durrani are the potential JUI-F chief minister. Meanwhile, in DIK Fazl will face PPP’s Waqar Ahmad Khan, Faisal Karim Kundi in Tank and Pakistan Muslim League-Likeminded Salim Saifullah Khan in Lakki Marwat. Moreover, Akram Durrani will be facing JUI –F dissident Maulana Syed Nasim Ali Shah and JI’s Prof Ibrahim Khan in Bannu.
Fazl has succeeded in creating fissures amongst the ranks of the PPP in DIK, whereas former provincial minister Samiullah Alizai has joined the alliance. The powerful Gandhapurs, headed by Israr Ullah Khan Gandhapur, is also supporting Fazl. On the other hand, Waqar Ahmad Khan has put in place an alliance of the PPP, the PML-N and the ANP against the Maulana, challenging him on an NA seat, while the provincial seats each went to the PPP and the PML-N and one to the ANP candidate. Influential Mazhar Jamil Alizai and Sanaullah Miankhel have become joint candidates against Maulana Lutaf on the PA seats.
As of present, the situation in Tank seems to be going in Fazl’s favour, but PTI is likely to play a key role in his defeat. To spice things up, Maulana will be facing his traditional rival Faisal Karim Kundi in Tank. In the 2008 elections, Faisal had gained a significant victory against Fazl in DIK. The PPP entered into an alliance with JUI-F dissident ex-MPA Ghulam Qadar Betani and ANP’s Habib Ullah Khan Kundi. Whereas, in Lakki Marwat, where FAzl will be facing Salim Saifullah, the JUI-F has an edge over Saifullah, as almost all former PML-N parliamentarians have joined the JUI-F. Anwar Saifullah had earlier established an alliance with the PML-N, but presently Fazl is engaged in efforts to gain the support of ex-bureaucrat Akhtar Muneer. The cold war between Fazl and Saifullah is expected to go further as elections approach.