SHANGLA: A tough competition is expected between PTI and PML-N candidates in NA-10 constituency of Shangla district in the July 25 general elections.

MMA candidate and Gujjar community leader Amir Sultan Gujjar is also likely to get reasonable votes of his community, which may dent the position of other parties.

Mr Gujjar had given tough time to Muqam’s son Niaz Ahmed Khan in the local bodies elections in Bengalai union council and lost the seat by only 40 votes.

The district also has two provincial assembly seats -- PK-23 and PK-24. The total registered voters are 374,343, including 162,049 women.

A total of nine candidates, including three independents, are in the run for NA-10. Ibadullah, former MNA and younger brother of PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, Haji Sadeed-ur-Rehman of ANP, Waqar Ahmed Khan of PTI, Amir Sultan of MMA, Bakht Naseeb of Awami Workers Party, Engr Hamid Iqbal of PPP, and independents Pervez Ahmed, Safeer Khan and Saeed Fareen.

Sources said the PPP had made an electoral alliance with PML-N in the constituency and won’t contest from here. However, PPP candidate from PK-23, Dr Afsarul Mulk, has denied the reports of alliance with PML-N.

The NA-10 was secured in the 2013 elections by Ibadullah of PML-N, bagging 29,728 votes. However, in the upcoming polls votes would be divided among four to five candidates.

The PML-N has maintained its stronghold in NA-10 but long absence of former MNA from the constituency has disappointed the voters.

According to political experts, Mr Muqam’s withdrawal from NA-10 is likely to affect the PML-N vote bank because his brother had zero performance in the constituency during last five years.

However, the party can cash in on the good vote bank in Puran tehsil as the area is the native town of Ibadullah.

Waqar Ahmed of PTI is also considered strong in NA-10 as he had bagged 2,900 votes when he had contested election from PK-23 in 2008 on the PML-N ticket due to his personal rapport.

His position has been further cemented after the disgruntled PTI worker Pervez Khattak announced withdrawal from the race in his support.

Moreover, PTI chairman Imran Khan held a big power show in Bisham recently which would go in favour of his party’s candidate.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018