Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is going to face a severe setback as powerful and influential Marwat family has announced joining Maulana Fazalur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The family is going to announce its formal decisions in a public meeting at Lakki Marwat on today (Tuesday).
The family at the moment beside others comprises of sitting MPA Munawar Khan Advocate and former MPA Zafar Ullah Khan. Beside them, former Inspector General (IG) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Dil Jan Khan Marwat along with other family members is also joining JUI-F in the same public gathering.
With the loss of both influential families in Lakki Marwat, the PML-N is likely to lose its roots in the area. Ironically, former civil bureaucrat Akhtar Muneer Marwat had recently joined PML-N and was posted as party’s provincial senior vice president. The post fell vacant after the death of late parliamentarian Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat but it had become impossible for him to face Kabir and Saif Ullah families in the area. Akhtar Muneer Marwat is the younger brother of the late Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat.
Maulana Fazalur Rehman’s JUI had suffered defeats not only in Lakki Marwat but also in Dera Ismael Khan during the 2008 general elections. It had though retained some seats at Bannu and swept polls in Tank but now Fazal is working hard to ensure victory in these four Southern districts. Fazal is currently enjoying the support of former Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani who played a key role in the induction of Kabir Khan and Dil Jan Khan in the JUI-F. Durrani had earlier inducted his friend Malik Riaz in JUI-F from Bannu who was divisional president of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Whereas at Kohat, former ANP MPA Shaukat Habib had joined JUI-F couple of years back when his rival Amjad Afridi was given a ministerial post in KP government.
No one can deny the fact that some high ranking JUI-F stalwarts, including Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, favor party’s electoral alliance with the PPP but sitting Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi is reluctant in allowing Maulana Fazal to contest and win from Dera Ismael Khan. Faisal Karim Kundi has made huge contributions in strengthening PPP in his native Dera Islamel Khan. That’s why he is now opposing electoral alliance with the PPP. Similar is the stance of PPP stalwarts from Tank and Bannu districts.
Considering all these factors, it is believed that the JUI-F is likely to go for a solo flight in the next general elections from the same southern districts whereas the PPP can easily go for seat adjustment with other parties including PML factions and ANP.
It’s ironic but true that the traditional rivals of Kabir’s and Dil Jan’s – Saif Ullahs from Ghazni Kel – are also divided. Salim Saif Ullah Khan is leading PML-Likeminded whereas his brother Anwar Saif Ullah Khan is counted amongst top PPP leaders. MNA Humayoon Saif Ullah Khan is supporting brother Salim Saif Ullah Khan whereas Senator Usman Saif Ullah Khan is following their father Anwar Saif Ullah Khan. One of Saif Ullah family members, Javed Saif Ullah, has announced to join Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI). These divisions amongst Saif Ullahs can make an easy task for JUI-F to win one national and three provincial assembly seats from Lakki Marwat.
