MINGORA: Key political leaders including Shahbaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Bilawal Bhutto, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pervez Musharraf and Amir Muqam on Monday filed nomination papers in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to contest the coming general elections.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination papers were filed for NA-3 Swat-II by Zeyad Khan and Rana Asadullah Khan.

PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, who was present on the occasion along with scores of party workers, said the entire world knew how energetic, hardworking and successful politician Shahbaz Sharif was and that he would win the NA-3 elections in light of his good performance as the Punjab chief minister to become the country’s next prime minister.

“This (Sharif’s election nomination) is a pride for the people of Swat valley,” he said.

Shahbaz files nominations in Swat, Imran in Bannu, Bilawal in Malakand and Musharraf in Chitral

Mr Muqam said the PML-N had decided that Shahbaz Sharif should contest elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, too.

“After considerable thinking, I invited him to contest elections from Swat, which he accepted. I am sure that he will change the fate of the entire province after he is elected from here,” he said.

PTI chief Imran Khan filed his nomination papers for NA-35 Bannu.

PTI district president Matiullah Khan and leader Malik Khalid Khan filed his nomination papers with the local returning officer.

Noted among other candidates in the constituency are JUI-F leader and former federal minister Akram Durrani and PPP’s candidate Syeda Yasmeen Safdar.

Also in the day, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s nomination papers were filed for NA-8 Malakand with the local returning officer by PPP central spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

Mr Babar was accompanied by party provincial chief Humayun Khan, former federal minister Lal Mohammad Khan, former governor Barrister Masud Kausar, leader Ahmad Hassan Khan and scores of party leaders and workers.

Mr Babar said the party’s chairman had decided to contest elections in Malakand on the demand of workers and love with people of this soil.

He hoped that the people of Malakand would elect Bilawal.

Former military ruler and All Pakistan Muslim League chief retired general Pervez Musharraf has filed his nomination papers for Chitral’s only National Assembly constituency, NA-1.

He is among 18 others in the running for NA-1, who include Dr Amjad, Sultan Wazir Khan, Taqdira Ajmal and Abdul Qayyum of the APML, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, Abdus Samad and Wajeehuddin of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Eidul Hussain of the ANP and Saleem Khan of the PPP, Shahzada Iftikharuddin of the PML-N, Abdul Latif of the PTI and independents Mohammad Yahya, Saeedur Rehman, Hizbullah, Shahzada Taimur Khusro and Shah Abul Mansoor.

Twenty-seven people have filed nominations for Chitral’s only provincial assembly seat, PK-1.

They include Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Abdus Samad and Wajeehuddin of the MMA, Abdul Wali Khan and Niaz A Niazi of the PML-N, Ghulam Mohammad and Amirullah of the PPP, Taqdira Ajmal, Sultan Wazir, Mohsin Hayat Shadab and Shahzada Amir Hasanat of the APML, Dr Sardar Ahmed of the ANP, Israruddin Saboor of the PTI and independents Sirajuddin, Razitu Billah, Shafiqur Rehman, Shah Abul Mansoor, Mohammad Wazir Khan and Misbahuddin.

In Shangla, Former PTI MPA Shaukat Ali Yousafzai filed nomination papers for PK-23, while PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam’s papers were filed for NA-10 by district nazim Niaz Ahmad Khan, PML-N district president Intikhab Alam and former MPA Mohammad Rashad Khan.

Nawaz Mehmood of the PTI and Saeed Qasim Shah of the Jamaat-i- Islami are also candidates for NA-10, Shangla.

Rashad Khan also filed his nominations for PK-23 Shangla-I. Nazir Ahmad of the PPP filed papers for PK-24 Shangla-II and Waqif Khan for PK-23 Shangla-I. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP’s Faisal Karim Kundi filed nomination papers from NA-39 Dera-II in Dera Ismail Khan.

Among other candidates are Shaikh Mohammad Yaqoob, Sardar Naurang Khan Gandapur, Wiqar Ahmad Khan, Mohammad Amir, Irfanullah Khan, Umar Farooq Miankhel.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018