SWABI: As many as 60 candidates, including those of various political parties and independents, would contest the July 25 elections from the five constituencies of provincial assembly in Swabi district.

Though it is quite difficult to predict the winners, some of the candidates are being considered by the local people here as the top contenders. The five constituencies of the Swabi district include PK-43, PK-44, PK-45, PK-46, and PK-47.

PK-43: A total of 19 candidates are in the race in PK-43, Swabi-I. “The politics of this constituency is entirely different from the other constituencies in the district,” said Liaquat Khan of Topi city.

The total registered voters here are 172,537, including 75,195 female voters. In the 2002 and 2008 elections, Sarfaraz Khan Jadoon of ANP had won from here, while PML-N’s Mohammad Shiraz emerged as victorious from this constituency in 2013 election.

For July 25 election, Mohammad Shiraz of PML-N, Rangaiz Khan of PTI and Sajjad Khan of MMA are considered as front runners and majority of the local people expect a neck and neck contest among them.

PK-44: Eleven candidates, including three independents, are contesting election from PK-44, Swabi-II. However, observers here said that Gul Zamin Shah of ANP, Babar Khan of PML-N, and Asad Qaisar of PTI, are strong contenders among all of them. Total registered voters in this constituency are 201,368, including 88,483 females.

In 2002 election, founder of Swabi Qaumi Mahaz late Dr Mohammad Saleem won the election, while Mohammad Zarshid of ANP had emerged victorious from here in the 2008 election. In 2013 election, Babar Khan, son of Dr Saleem, had won the election while contesting on then Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan ticket.

“If all the contesting candidates got a reasonable number of votes then Gul Zamin would have a great advantage over his opponents,” said Sher Ali of Maneri Bala village.

However, Mohammad Farooq of Salim Khan village said that Mr Qaisar could win the election because several leaders of the PML-N and other parties had recently joined PTI. PK-45: Total 12 candidates are in the race for PK-45, Swabi-III.Amjid Ali of ANP, Abdul Karim of PTI and Sikandar Irfan of PPP are the main competitors while other candidates are still lagging so far.

The total registered voters in this constituency are 184,973, including 81,074 women. Maulana Fazal Ali of MMA won from here in 2002 election. ANP’s Sikandar Iran had won the seat in 2008 elections, while Asad Qaisar had emerged victorious from this constituency in 2013.

Observers said that the winner from this constituency would be one of Mr Amjid, Mr Karim and Mr Sikandar. PK-46: Total registered voters in PK-46 are 178,580, including 101,409 male and 77,171 female voters.

Mukhtiar Ali advocate of ANP had emerged victories from here in the election 2002 and 2008.

Mohammad Ali Tarakai who contested election from then AJIP platform for the first time was elected in 2013 election.

Now, total eight candidates are contesting election in PK-46.Among them, former MPA Mohammad Ali Tarakai, a PTI candidate, Mohammad Ayaz of ANP and Ibne Aman Khan of PPP are the main competitors.

Observers said that the PTI candidate enjoys an edge over his rivals, but the ANP candidate said that he could turn the tables on his opponents.

However, Mohammad Ishfaq of Kalu Khan said that this time it was expected that the votes would be divided among the contesting leaders and ANP candidate would get a chance to win. PK-47: A close contest is expected in this constituency.Shahram Khan Tarakai of PTI, Ijaz Bacha, a leading entrepreneur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PML-N candidate, and ANP candidate Ameer Rehman are contesting election from here. There are seven other contestants, including three independents, but none of them could make an impact so far as the three aforementioned candidates.

The total registered voters in this constituency are 175,210. In 2002 election, Ameer Rehman had won from this constituency. Javid Iqbal Tarakai contested election from here as an independent candidate and emerged victorious in 2008 election.

Mr Shahram, contested 2013 election in this constituency from the AJIP platform, giving second defeat to Ameer Rehman.

Fazal Khaliq of Tarakai village said that Mr Shahram and Mr Ijaz would make inroads into each other’s support base, while the ANP voters could not be lured and as such its candidate had a chance to win.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2018