SHANGLA: A close fight is expected between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidates in PK-24, Shangla-II.

The PK-24 comprises four tehsils of Puran, Chakesar, Martung and Makhozi, and it is the native constituency of PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam.

Fazalullah Peer Mohammad Khan, the former MPA, is contesting election from the seat on the PML-N ticket, and Abdul Mula, who is younger brother of former MPA Abdul Munim, is contesting on the PTI ticket.

According to the locals, the PTI has done record development in the constituency which would help the party clinch the seat. It is to be recalled here that in the 2013 general elections PTI candidate Imdad Durrani had secured only 778 votes.

As the constituency has been stronghold of PML-N, Peer Fazalullah, the son of former provincial minister late Peer Mohammad Khan, would give tough time to PTI man as he had lost the seat by just 267 votes in the 2013 general elections. The seat was won by Mr Munim, who contested the polls as independent and later joined PTI.

The locals also believe that Awami National Party’s Faisal Zeb Khan and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Sher Alam would also secure high margin of votes. The ANP candidate is contesting the elections first time. The party had fielded Anwar Ali from the constituency in the 2013 elections who had obtained 6,409 votes. In the previous polls, Sher Alam had secured 7,652 votes, who had contested the polls on JUI-F ticket.

Dr Sajjad, who is contesting on the Qaumi Watan Party ticket, recently struck electoral alliance with the PPP in the constituency. He is likely to dent the support of MMA.

The Awami Workers Party has fielded Nasirullah but, according to locals, he is less popular and won’t have any visible affect on the results.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2018