LAKKI MARWAT: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its arch political rival Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl have emerged as the main contestants in the local government elections in Bannu district.

The JUI-F has fielded strong candidates for the top slots of tehsil chairmen in the five tehsils of the district.

The candidates backed by PTI, meanwhile, are also facing opposition from their own party workers who are also contesting elections as independents.

JUI-F candidate Irfan Durrani, the son-in-law of former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, is in the election arena for the coveted seat of Bannu tehsil chairman.

Ruling party also facing threat from own independent candidates

The religious party has fielded Malik Ikramukllah Khan for the tehsil chairman slot from Kakki tehsil, Musharraf Alamgir Wazir from Domel tehsil, Malik Mamoor Khan from Bakkakhel tehsil, Malik Naeem Khan from Miryan tehsil and Malik Masto Khan from Wazir subdivision.

The JUI-F activists are engaged in a brisk campaign to muster people’s support for the party candidates. The party candidates except Ikramullah Khan are lucky as they are not confronted with any kind of opposition from within the party.

In Kakki tehsil, a senior JUI-F activist Shahab Gul is in the field as an independent candidate and he can create trouble for the party contender.

Akram Durrani, who belongs to Bannu district, is busy mustering support for his party candidates. During public meetings, he did not spare a chance to blast the ruling PTI, holding it responsible for the economic and political mess in the country.

Apart from him, JUI-F MNA Zahid Akram Durrani is also trying to the pave the way for victory of party candidates in tehsil, village and neighbourhood councils.

On the other side, the PTI candidates seem to be in trouble as besides presence of challengers from JUI-F and other parties they are also confronting their own party leaders as independent candidates.

In Bannu tehsil, Iqbal Jadoon, a PTI candidate, is trying his luck while former district councillor Ms Nadia Khan affiliated with the same party is also contesting the election for the same slot in independent capacity.

The PTI has fielded Junaid Rashid for the seat of tehsil chairman from Kakki tehsil where the party’s former district councillor Pir Khan Badshah is also contesting election.

In Wazir subdivision, the ruling party has issued ticket to Noor Draz Khan for the seat of tehsil chairman, but the party’s former local president Moveez Khan has fielded his son Irfanullah against him as an independent candidate.

In Bakkakhel tehsil, PTI’s former district councillor Gulfar Ali Khan is challenging party ticket-holder Malik Mamoon Khan, son of provincial transport minister Shah Mohammad Khan.

PML-N, ANP and PPP have also fielded candidates for various slots, including tehsil chairmen.

PML-N district president Pir Kamal Shah is in the race for Miryan tehsil top slot. He is being considered a strong candidate due to his family’s political influence in the district.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2021