Constituency Profile – NA4 Peshawar
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Arbab Kamal has said, for long no elected representative has diverted public’s attention towards the misery and suffering of the people of rural areas adjoining Peshawar.
“None other than the Awami National Party is responsible for the backwardness that has plagued the area, for its leaders were elected from these areas since the 1990s,” said he in various public gatherings during his election from NA-4 Peshawar. So far, Kamal has addressed corner and public meetings at Urmar, Masho Gagar, Mair Kachoori, Badhabher and other areas. During his campaign, a large number of people from other political parties and groups have announced support for Kamal.
Arbab Kamal belongs to the famous Arbab family from Landi Arbab, Peshawar. The NA-4 constituency, from where he is contesting, comprises of towns and hamlets situated on both sides of the Kohat Road. A brief political profile since the 1990s: Arbab Mohammad Zahir Khan was elected from this constituency in 1990-1993 and Arbab Saad Ullah filled the spot in 1997. It is pertinent to mention here that the former is a close relative of Kamal. Meanwhile, in 2002 general elections, the MMA’s Sabir Hussain Awan gained an important victory, whereas in 2008 Arbab Zahir of the ANP succeeded in bringing the seat back into progressive fold.
Presently, Zahir would not be a part of the race, therefore prompting the ANP to field its veteran Arbab Ayub Jan from the important constituency. Compared to other candidates, Kamal looks like the man to beat.
While highlighting his post-victory aims, Kamal said, he would give first priority to getting Sui connection for his electorates. Similarly, he said that lacking access to standard education, hospitals and educational institutions was another big issue being faced in the area. He further said that it was astonishing that leading industrial estates were established in NA-4 and still unemployment was on the rise. In this connection, he said that he would convince all industrialists and entrepreneurs to provide employment to the locals.
While commenting on the deteriorating law and order situation, Kamal attributed it to what he called wrong policies of the previous government. He further said, around 30 military operations were conducted in the region, thus exacting heavy human and material toll from the helpless and innocent people of the KPK province in general and the areas adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in particular.
To ensure that peace returns to the region, he said, the JUI-F chief Fazlur Rahman had constituted a jirga for the purpose, adding that the party was determined to fulfill its long standing dream of ending violence through negotiations.
The JUI-F leader said that in the previous three decades, all elected representatives from NA-4 did not fulfill their prime responsibility of addressing the genuine needs of the locals. Under the dynamic leadership of Fazl, Arbab Kamal said, the JUI-F candidates were determined to bringing a revolution in the KPK. He called upon the people of Peshawar, the KPK and the adjoining FATA, if they were supporters of reforms, they must elect the JUI-F into power.
