The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is likely to face a close fight from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on almost all national and provincial assembly seats in Hazara region.
Whereas the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JIU-F), the Tehreek Sooba Hazara and the Awami National Party’s existence in election campaign in six districts of Hazara is satisfactory and this could multiply hardships for the PML-N candidates. Some of its influential candidates can change political atmosphere, whereas some of its stalwarts and public opinion makers are struggling for another province.
Since the Partition, Hazara region is considered a stronghold of the Muslim League whereas its people, particularly non-Pakhtun have proved themselves archrivals of nationalist forces. Politicians from this area have occupied important offices. Late Iqbal Jadoon, Sahibzada Pir Sabir Shah and Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan have served the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as its chief ministers. Whereas Habibullah Khan Tareen was the KP Assembly speaker. Gohar Ayub Khan had worked in multiple capacities as the National Assembly’s speaker and foreign minister.
Nawaz Sharif remained MNA from Hazara for three times. The PML-N president calls Hazara his second home. His son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar is considered and treated as a member of the Sharif family in Hazara.
With all their tall claims, most of the leading politicians and influential families from Hazara have been involved in politics of horse trading and changing loyalties. In the past, with change of governments in Islamabad and Peshawar, dozens of politicians used to change their loyalties overnight. Even they did not bother to take their families into confidence. And similar is the existing situation whereas politicians who either remain close to Pervez Musharraf or Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain or occupied important ministries recently joined the PML-N whereas some of them joined the PTI and JUI-F. Some of them who had served as ANP ministers for five years recently switched over to the PML-N and JUI-F.
Despite certain shortfalls, the PML-N was the biggest political force in Hazara in 2008 elections as it got four out of seven national and five provincial assembly seats. The PML-N had swept on all National Assembly seats from both Abbottabad and Haripur whereas PML-Q became victorious in Battagram and half of Mansehra. The lone NA seat from Kohistan went to an independent who later became part of then ruling PPP. The PML-N had won one of two NA seats from Mansehra, but in by-elections the seat went to JUI-F. The PML-N had won four of five KP Assembly seats in Abbottabad and only one in Haripur. The remaining seats were won by independent candidates, JUI-F, ANP and PML-Q. As many as eight, a highest number of independent candidates was elected to the provincial assembly from Hazara in 2008 elections.
This time political atmosphere in Hazara is different. So far, PML-Q is not visible as its top leaders such as Gohar Ayub Khan, Sardar Yousaf, Wajehul Zaman Khan have joined the PML-N.
In reaction, the PML-N had lost its most credible and diehard ex-MNA Sardar Mushtaq who is now facing Omar Ayub Khan on NA seat from Haripur. Former PML-Q lawmaker Salahuddin Saeed is trying to retain his seat on a PTI ticket. Former PML-Q president Qasim Shah has challenged Sardar Yousaf on National Assembly seat. Prince Nawaz is contesting as independent candidate. PML-N leader Sardar Mehtab is contesting from both national and provincial assembly seat whereas Sabir Shah is running for a provincial assembly seat. Both along with ex-federal minister Amir Muqam (who is contesting from two provincial and one NA seat from Swat) are counted amongst the most favourite candidates of PML-N for the chief minister’s office.
In NA-17 constituency, Sardar Mehtab is facing PTI’s Azhar Jadoon. On NA-18 Murtaza Javed Abbasi is contesting against Baba Haider Zaman, on NA-19 Omar Ayub Khan Is facing Sardar Mushtaq of PPP, on NA-20 Sardar Yousaf facing JUI-F’s Qasim Shah, on NA-21 Capt (r) Safdar is facing PTI’s Shehzada Salahuddin Saeed, on NA-22 Battagram Alamzeb Khan is facing Prince Nawaz and on NA-23 Kohistan Aurangzeb facing JUI (F) Mehboob Jan. Likewise is the situation on all 19 provincial assembly seats whereas PTI, JUI (F) and PPP have fielded strong candidates. The candidates of other political parties like JI, ANP and independents could cause setbacks to the PML-N.
On such grounds, elections in Hazara region are not easy for the PML-N. The PTI and Baba Haider Zaman-led group are likely to give a real tough time to those who were in the assemblies for the last five years.