PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has announced its candidates for the national and provincial assemblies’ constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The NA candidates also include that of the tribal areas merged with the province.

Of total 51 National Assembly seats, the party has awarded tickets to 42 candidates whereas of the 99 constituencies of KP Assembly it has allotted tickets to 81 candidates.

Seven tickets for the general seats have been awarded to female candidates. Of them, Sobia Shahid will contest from NA-7, Lower Dir, and NA-27, Peshawar, constituencies and Begum Tahira Bukhari from NA-23, Charsadda.

Farah Khan is PML-N candidate from PK-60, Charsadda, Ms Sumera from PK-58, Charsadda, Khursheed Bibi from PK-98, Dera Ismail Khan, and Jamila Paracha has been awarded tickets for PK-80 and PK-82, Kohat.

The party has not awarded tickets for NA-11, Kohistan, NA-12, Batagram, NA-33, Hangu, and NA-35, Bannu. Of the 12 constituencies in the newly-merged tribal region the party has issued only seven tickets which include Mohammad Akbar, NA-40 Bajaur; Haji Zar Khan NA-42 Khyber; Abdul Karim Abid, NA-45; Nek Amal Khan, NA-48 North Waziristan; Dilawar Khan NA-49; and Ghalib Khan, NA-50 South Waziristan.

On many seats of the provincial assembly the party leadership has bargained with other political parties, especially in Bannu where it has not issued ticket for the NA and four PA seats. The situation in Buner, Kohistan and southern districts shows that the party has done seat adjustment.

Sajjad Ahmed and Gul Zaman have been awarded tickets for PK-18 and PK-19, Malakand, respectively; Muhammad Rashad PK-23 Shangla; Fazal Ullah Khan, PK-24 Shangla; Kamranullah Khan, PK-28 Batagram; and Wali Mohammad Khan, PK-29 Batagram.

In Mansehra, PK-30 ticket has been awarded to Mian Ziaur Rehman, PK-31 to Sardar Zahoor, PK-32 to Naeem Sakhi, PK-34 to Sardar Yousuf, and PK-35 (Mansehra-Torghar) to Taimurullah Khan. In Abbottabad the ticket for PK-37 has been awarded to Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, PK-38 to Mohammad Arshad and PK-39 to Inayat Khan.

In Swabi, the PK-43 ticket has been awarded to Mohammad Shiraz, PK-44 to Baber Khan, PK-45 to Nawab Zada, PK-46 to Shahjehan Bacha, and PK-47 to Ijaz Akram Bacha.

In Charsadda, the candidates of PA seats include Sheraz Hassan, PK-56; Kaleem Akbar, PK-57; and Taj Ali, PK-59.

The tickets for PK-83 and PK-84 have been awarded to Saifur Rehman and Waheed Khan, respectively, and that for PK-91, PK-93, Lakki, to Najmus Saqib and Qaribullah Khan. Samiullah Khan Burki will contest elections in PK-94, Tank.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the ticket for PK-95 has been awarded to Mohammad Javed, PK-96 to Mohammad Waseem and PK-97 to Nawaz Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2018