SWAT: A tough contest is expected in National Assembly constituency NA-2 in the general elections to be held on February 8.

A total of nine candidates including independent and nominees of different political parties are in the run for the seat.

According to political analysts, a tight competition between PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam, former PTI MNA and current candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party Dr Haider Ali Khan, ANP former provincial minister Mohammad Ayub Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Naveed Iqbal Shal Da and JUI-F candidate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor is expected in the constituency.

Dr Amjad Ali contested previous elections on ticket of PPP but this time he is part of PTI. Similarly, Dr Haider Ali Khan was elected from the same area as candidate of PTI, but after the May 9 events, he switched to PPP and will now contest elections on the ticket of PPP.

The constituency has 485,400 registered voters including 265,578 men and 219,822 women. There are 341 polling stations, with 60 for men and 50 for women, in the constituency. The overall count of polling booths in the constituency stands at 341.

In the 2018 elections, Dr Haider Ali emerged victorious with 61,687 votes. Amir Maqam of PML-N secured second position with 41,125 votes while Naveed Iqbal of ANP grabbed third position by polling 18,088 votes.

In the 2013 elections, Salimur Rehman, the candidate of PTI, secured victory in this constituency with 49,887 votes. Amir Maqam of PML-N got second position with 32,853 votes while JUI-F’s HafeezurRehman secured third position by getting 16,639 votes.

Moving to the 2008 elections, PPP’s Syed Alauddin emerged as winner in this constituency with 24,063 votes. Shujaat Ali Khan of PML-Q secured second position with 16,337 votes and independent candidate Advocate Sher Bahadur Khan obtained 7,894 votes.

In the 2002 general elections, Mutahidda Majls-i-Amal candidate Dr Fazal Subhan won this constituency with an impressive 67,085 votes. PML-Q’s Shujaat Ali Khan secured second position with 15,680 votes while Salimur Rahman of PPP got 10,867 votes.

Important areas in this constituency include Kalam, Bahrain, Madyan, Fatehpur, Khawaza Khela, Charbagh, Malam Jabba, Sangota, Kokari and Jambil.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2024