UPPER DIR: A close bout is expected in PK-11, Upper Dir-II, where the major parties have fielded heavyweights to win the July 25 elections.

Malak Hayat Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-N, and his nephew, Malak Azam Khan of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Sahibzada Sanaullah of Pakistan Peoples Party, Fakhar Hayat of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Ameer Zaman of Awami National Party and Badshah Rawan of All Pakistan Muslim League are in the running in the constituency.

But the real contest is expected among Sahibzada Sanaullah of PPP, Malak Azam of MMA, Fakhar Hayat of PTI and Malak Hayat Khan of PML-N.

The constituency has always been considered a stronghold of JI where it has won most of the elections in the past. However, after the exclusion of Khal, Shalpalam and Toormang from the constituency, which were considered strong areas of JI, the MMA nominee would face problems.

The quitting of JI by former MPA Malak Hayat Khan and joining the PML-N have boosted the party’s chances from the constituency, thus causing ripples to his nephew, Malak Azam.

The PPP’s Sahibzada Sanaullah is being considered a real danger for Malak Azam, as the former defeated the latter in the 2015 by-elections.

The locals said that Sanaullah had completed a number of development projects in his short tenure in the constituency, and because of which he would win the polls.

The PTI’s Fakhar Hayat is also considered a strong contender to win the seat because he remained the tehsil nazim in Wari and delivered goods there. He joined the PTI after quitting the PML-N, however, his father, Malak Jehanzeb Khan, is still in PML-N. It is being said that he might get a number of PML-N votes.

So, in the presence of some real heavyweights in the field the battle for PK-11 is considered the most closest and toughest of the fights in Upper Dir.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018