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| October 5, 2005 | Wednesday | Sha’aban 30, 1426 |
MMA faces tough contest in dist nazim polls
PESHAWAR, Oct 4: The provincial ruling alliance, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, is faced with a difficult situation in Thursday’s district nazim elections due to rifts within its ranks and the alliances formed by liberal political forces against candidates backed by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), two main components of the MMA.
The main candidates vying for the posts of district nazims in all 24 districts of the province make it clear that very few of the new district governments would be headed by men associated with JUI(F) and JI — running the provincial government jointly following their landslide victory in the October 2002 general elections.
The previous district governments, which completed their four-year term in July, only two were headed by men associated with the JI. Majority of the district governments were headed by nazims associated with political forces opposed to MMA’s rule in the NWFP.
The situation left the MMA-led provincial government and several district governments at loggerheads in the past two years.
A repeat of the earlier situation is expected as in several districts nazims are likely to come from the PML-Q, the ANP and other political parties.
Though the JUI(F) has fielded 10 candidates for the posts of district nazims in as many districts and the JI eight but their candidates are likely to get through only in few districts because of adjustments made by other political forces and due to their (JI/JUI-F) internal differences.
Apart from contesting against each other in two districts, JI and JUI(F)’s problems have been compounded by adjustments made by Awami National Party, Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao), Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) in several districts.
The JI and the JUI(F) are challenging each other for the nazim slots in Bannu and Kohistan districts whereas in several other districts they have joined hands with other political forces against each other.
The districts where they have entered into election adjustments with other political forces against each other include Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Abbottabad, Karak, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Malakand Protected Areas, Buner and Swat.
At some places JUI(F)’s candidates are faced by opponents who have been extended support by the JI in line with its [JI’s] election adjustments with ANP, PPP, PPP(S), PML(Q) and PML(N).
PPP spokesman Senator Farhat Ullah Babar when contacted said that the situation was manifestation of the military establishment’s endeavours to depoliticise the society and dilute mainstream political parties.
Mainstream religious and political parties including PML, ANP, JUI (F) and JI appear to be forerunners in the polls as, in their individual capacity, they have fielded highest number of candidates.
Whereas, the PPP — which was once a major political force in the NWFP — The PPP(S) and the PML (N) appear to be in a difficult situation as they can field candidates for the slots of district nazim in few districts as part of their strategy to enter into election adjustments with other political parties and concentrating more on tehsil nazims’ elections.
Data gleaned from distritcs reveals that the PML-N has its candidates contesting for the top district slot only in three districts whereas the PPP and the PPP(S) have in four each districts. Whereas, the PML-Q is directly supporting 12 candidates in as many districts, JUI(F) 10, ANP 10 and JI has fielded eight candidates for the top position in as many districts.
District-wise position of main candidates and their political affiliation is as follow:
Abbottabad District: Barrister Javed Abbasi of PML is facing a challenge from Baba Haider Zaman of PML(Q).
Bannu District: The NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani’s cousin Azam Durrani, of JUI(F), is contesting against Senator Prof Ibrahim, vice president of JI for the NWFP.
Battagram District: Ehsanullah Khan of JUI(F) is vying against Attach Ullah Tarand of PML(Q).
Buner District: Zar Farosh Khan of JI is facing ANP’s Haji Rauf Khan.
Charsadda District: PML(Q)’s Naseer Mohammed Khan is facing Hashim Khan and Sajid Khan fielded by ANP and PPP(Sherpao) respectively.
Chitral District: Shahzada Mohi-ud-Din of PML(Q) is contesting against JI’s Maghfirat Shah.
DI Khan District: Opposition leader in the national assembly Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s brother Ubaid-u-Rehman (JUI-F) is contesting against Mohammed Mukhtiar Ahmed, fielded by a strong political group of the area.
Hangu District: Ghani-ur-Rehman of PPP(S) is contesting against Haji Afzal Khan of JUI(F).
Harripur District: Raja Aamir Zaman, son of former provincial chief minister Raja Sikandar Zaman, a leading landlord of the area is facing Yousuf Ayub Khan, grandson of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Mr Zaman has the support of some MPAs belonging to PML(Q) and JI whereas Mr Ayub is being supported by his uncle Gohar Ayub Khan of PML(Q).
Kohat District: Gohar Saifullah of ANP is contesting against Umer Khan.
Kohistann District: Former district nazim Obaidullah, who had joined JI following corruption charges levelled against him, is facing a challenge from Saif-ur-Rehman who has the blessings of provincial minister Asmat Ullah belonging to JUI(F).
Karak District: Rehmat Salam Khattak of PML(N), Mohammed Ayub Khattak of PML(Q), Malik Qasim of JUI(F), Sharif Khattak of ANP and Mohammed Rehman of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf are among the forerunners vying for the top slot in the district.
Lower Dir District: Former MPA Ahmed Hassan Khan of PPP is contesting against JI’s Mohammed Rasool Khan. Mr Ahmed is being supported by all other major political groupings in the area.
Lakki Marwat District: Humayun Saif Ullah Khan of PML(Q) is contesting against Naseer Mohammed Khan of PML(N).
Malakand Protected Areas: Ahmed Ali Shah of PPP and supported by JI is contesting against Fida Mohammed of PPP(S).
Mansehra District: Sardar Mohammed Yousuf Khan of PML(Q) is facing Syed Ahmed Hussain, son of a leading landlord and former MNA Syed Muzzamal Shah.
Mardan District: Himayat Ullah Mayar of ANP and supported by JI is contesting against JUI(F)’s Jalil-ul-Mulk. Other candidates vying for the top district slot include Syed Kamal Shah of PPP(S) and Gul Nawaz Khan of PML(Q).
Nowshera District: Asif Luqman Qazi, son of JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed is facing challenge at the hands of PPP’s Dawood Khan Khattak and ANP’s Mian Rashid Ali Shah.
Peshawar District: Haroon Bilour of ANP is facing JUI(F)’s Haji Ghulam Ali. The JI is supporting ANP’s Haroon Bilour. Whereas, the PPP has put its weight behind JUI(F)’s Ghulam Ali.
Shangla District: Habib-ur-Rehman of ANP, who is being supported by PPP(S), JI and JUI(F), is contesting against PML(Q)’s Ibadullah, younger brother of federal minister of state for water and power Amir Muqam Khan, who is also the provincial chief of PML(Q).
Swabi District: Aman Ullah of ANP is fighting against Sheram Khan of PML(Q).
Swat District: Jamal Nasir of PML(Q) is facing Mohammed Zamir of JI, Mumtaz Khan of ANP and Sardar Ali of ANP who is also being supported by PPP(S) and JUI(F). Whereas, a splinter group of JUI(F) has fielded Ubaid-ur-Rehman.
Tank District: Nawabzada Binyamin Khan, previously associated with PPP(S) is contesting against Riaz Khan Kundi, son of Habib Ullah Kundi of PML(Q). Mr Binyamin Khan enjoys the support of JUI(F).
Upper Dir District: Najmuddin Khan, provincial general secretary of PPP is facing Sahibzada Tariqullah, former district nazim.
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