In May 11 elections, nominees of various political parties failed to attract voters as independent candidates managed to win majority of seats from war-hit tribal regions.
Out of 10 seats, independent candidates managed to win six. There are a total of 12 National Assembly seats in FATA but due to various reasons, elections could not be held in NA-38 and NA-46.
In fact, this was the first time political parties pitched their candidates in FATA.
This could be the reason behind their defeat; people are not very familiar with political parties and their ideologies and vision. Talking to Pakistan Today, newly elected MNA Sajid Hussain Touri, who won the elections from NA -37 as an independent candidate, said that it was a great sign for the democracy that despite terrorists’ attacks and threats tribesmen came out from their houses to elect their leaders.
Majority of candidates nominated by political parties faced defeat at the hands of the rich and influential independent candidates.
In May 11 elections, for the first time in the history of electoral system of the country, political parties were allowed by Election Commission of Pakistan to field their candidates.
The parties fielded their nominees in almost all of the 10 constituencies. However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) managed to win two seats followed by one each by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat UIema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). According to the ECP, PTI candidate Qaisar Jamal won NA-47, PML-N’s Ghalib Khan and Shahubudin Khan won from NA-41 and NA-44 respectively. The candidate managed to win seat from NA-42.
It is relevant to note that a group of six newly elected MNAs recently had a meeting with Nawaz Sharif and assured him their full support in parliament.
“We will support PML-N in parliament but we will not formally join it,” Sajid Turi told Pakistan Today.