Whatever the outcome of the general elections, a number of aspirants are staking their claim for the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa chief minister’s slot, though none has expressed prime ministerial ambitions.
Compared to the other three provinces, KP is quite fertile in producing national level leaders. In the recent past, Maulana Mufti Mehmood, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Ajmal Khattak not only lead their own parties but also cobbled together nationwide alliances. From the contemporary lot, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Maulana Samiul Haq and Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao are leading major parties. Except Maulana Sami, the remaining three are in the run for National Assembly seats but none of them is considered as potential prime minister.
On the other hand, not only leadership of some political parties but even some of the independents have also thrown their hats in the ring for provincial chief executive. Amongst them, the PTI’s Asad Qaisar and the PPP’s provincial president have declared their ambition even before their election to the provincial assembly. Both are contesting polls for PA seats from Swabi and Lakki Marwat respectively. The PTI’s Asad Qiasar, a first time contestant, in his student days was associated with Jamaat e Islami’s student wing, Islami Jamiat Tulba. He has never run even for local bodies or union council level bodies.
Former chief ministers Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Sahibzada Pir Sabir Shah, Akram Khan Durrani and Amir Haider Khan Hoti are the top contenders for the position. Sabir Shah and Sardar Mehtab belong to the PML-N whereas former federal minister Engineer Amir Muqam is also eyeing the same slot. So far Sardar Mehtab and Pir Sabir Shah are united in keeping Amir Muqam out. Former federal minister Khawaja Hoti along with cousin Arsala Khan Hoti could be interested in getting the coveted position for young Omar Farooq Hoti.
Besides Akram Durrani, sitting Senator Haji Ghulam Ali and Maulana Lutfur Rahman (younger sibling of Maulana Fazlur are also vying the position. Haji Ghulam Ali though wasn’t even given JUI-F ticket; now he contesting for an NA seat from Peshawar and is out of the run for CM’s office. Maulana Lutfur is contesting from two PA constituencies from native Dera Ismail Khan. Durrani is said to be in good books of Maulana Fazlur and is likely to get the nod without much resistance within the party in case of JUI-F victory in the general elections.
Former CM Amir Haider Hoti is contesting for both NA and PA seats and is the lone ANP aspirant for the CM’s office, though Barrister Haroon Bilour along with Saqib Ullah Khan Chamkani are considered his alternates. Having been KP chief minister twice, but heading a relatively new political entity, Aftab Sherpao for the moment cannot possibly expect to launch a bid for a third stint but in the near future, he would definitely strive to place son Sikandar Sherpao to emulate him.
