ATTOCK: Bucking tradition, voters in Attock district may vote based on individual candidates rather than limiting themselves to voting along party lines.

Few party flags have been hoisted over private buildings or in public buildings in most of the district, and only one store in Hazro city is selling election merchandise representing the various parties.

Instead of being bound by one party or another, many locals are openly supporting the PTI candidate in NA-55 and NA-56 – Attock’s two National Assembly seats – while also pledging to vote for PML-N’s Jehangir Khanzada in PP-2.

The situation is not favourable to PML-N NA-55 candidate Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, a former federal minister who has contributed significantly to development work in this area.

“We believe party workers will abide by the decision of the high command, and it is good for strong democracy in the country,” Mr Ahmad told Dawn.

Those benefiting from this emerging trend to give more weight to individual decisions rather than those of a party or clan have lauded the situation.

“Some former members of the Sipah-i-Sahaba were supporting me because they know who the best choice for the constituency is,” PTI’s candidate for PP-1 Yawar Bukhari said, referring to a recent announcement of support for the PML-N in the constituency by the banned organisation.

Another factor that may work in favour of PTI candidates in the both National Assembly seats in the unexpected challenge by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), led by Allama Khadim Rizvi.

Mr Rizvi is from the Nakatut village from Attock’s Pindigheb tehsil. Four of the workers who died during the Faizabad sit-in were also from the Pindigheb area, and the TLP has made the PML-N a target in its campaign.

However campaigning in the district has been subdued due to the implementation of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct, and pressure from law enforcement agencies following several terror attacks in the district, including the assassination of then Punjab home minister retired Col Shuja Khanzada in 2015, the attack on Kamra Airbase in 2012 as well as targeted killings.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018