MARDAN: A tough contest is expected between the candidates of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Awami National Party in PK-53 constituency in the by-elections scheduled to be held on October 14.

According to officials, five candidates including three independent contenders are in the run for the by-polls in the constituency. The provincial assembly seat was vacated by ANP leader Ameer Haider Khan Hoti after he retained his National Assembly seat NA-21. The PK-53 constituency comprising urban areas is consisted of 11 union councils.

In the general elections of 2002, Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal candidate Ikramullah Shahid had won the seat. He remained deputy speaker of the provincial assembly in the MMA government in the province.

ANP candidate Ameer Haider Khan Hoti succeeded from PK-53 constituency during the general elections of 2008. He was elected chief minister of the province. He defeated PTI candidate Umar Farooq Kakakheil in the 2013 general elections from the same constituency. ANP candidate Ahmad Khan Bahadar again snatched the seat from PTI candidate Umar Farooq Kakakheil in the by-polls when Mr Hoti vacated it and retained his National Assembly seat in 2013.

Mr Hoti was declared successful in both NA-21 and PK-53 constituencies in the 2018 general elections. However, he decided to vacate his provincial assembly seat and retained his National Assembly seat. Five candidates including Ahmad Khan Bahadar of ANP, Abdus Salam Afridi of PTI, Musawir Khan, retired Major Akbar Shah and Wilayat Khan are in the run for by-polls in PK-53 constituency.

However, local observers said that it was a contest between the candidates of ANP and the ruling PTI. Both, the candidates have geared up their election campaign in a bid to win the provincial assembly seat, vacated by the ANP leader, with a big margin.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018