DERA ISMAIL KHAN: As many as 164 candidates, including national political leaders, have tossed their hats into the ring for two national and five provincial assembly seats of the Dera Ismail Khan district.

According to the District Election Commission, 38 people will contest the Feb 8 general elections in two National Assembly constituencies, including NA-44 and NA-45, while 126 are in the running for five provincial assembly seats.

As many as 23 candidates are in the electoral race for NA-44 (DI Khan-I). They include Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) central information secretary Faisal Karim Kundi, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTI-P) leader Mohammad Jawad Asghar, Mohammad Shafiqul Hai of the Tehreek-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), Mohammad Yousaf Khan of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Sherullah Khan of the Awami National Party (ANP) and 17 independent candidates.

On NA-45 (DI Khan-II), 15 candidates are contesting elections including Fatehullah Khan of PPP, Obaid ur Rehman of JUI-F, Shahi Khan of ANP, Mohammad Ijaz of JI, and 11 independents.

They include Fazl, Gandapur, Kundi

Among independents is Mohammad Yaqub Shaik with the electoral symbol ‘clock’. He won the seat in 2018 elections as a nominee of the PTI. He is a strong candidate, according to observers.

As for provincial assembly seats, the highest number of candidates i.e. 35 are contesting in PK-113. They include Azizullah Alizai of the PPP, Mohammad Kafeel Ahmad of the JUI-F, Sirhaan Ahmad Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Qayyum Nawaz of the PTI-P, Taimur Ali Khan of the ANP, Haji Mohammad Aqeel of the TLP, Zahid Muhibullah Khan of the JI, Mohammad Shehzad of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP), Mohammad Saqib Bilal of the Pakistan Rah-i-Haq party, Mohammad Ahmad Khan Alizai of the Pakistan Muslim League, and 25 independents.

Similarly, 20 candidates are in the race for PK-111 seat. They include Makhdoomzada Mohammad Aftab Haider of the JUI-F, Mujahid Khan of the TLP, Fozia Gul of the JI, Ehtesham Javed of the PTI-P and 15 independents.

In PK-112 constituency, a tough competition is expected between PPP’s Ahmad Karim Kundi and JUI-F’s Samiullah Alizai.

Twenty candidates are contesting election for the seat. They include Abdur Rahim of the ANP, Abdul Latif of the Pakistan Rah-e-Haq, JI’s Abdullah Jan, Ajab Khan of the Sulaiman Khel Qabail, Mohammad Shafiqul Hai of the TLP, and 13 independents.

There are 23 candidates for PK-114 election including Qaizar Khan of PPP, Lutfur Rehman of JUI-F, Amanullah Khan of Jamhoori Watan Party, JI’s Sanaullah, PTI-P’s Khalid Saleem, Zainul Nawaz of the TLP, Atta Mohammad of ANP and Mohammad Bilal of Amun Taraqqi Party.

As many as 28 candidates are in the running for PK-115 seat, including Aaghaz Ikramullah Gandapur of JUI-F, Ehsanullah Khan of the PPP, Ameer Jan of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Abdul Mateen Khan of the JI, Adnan Khan of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, Mehboob Gul of the Rabita Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Mohammad Faridoon Khan of the TLP, and 21 independents.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024