SWAT:Former chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians vice-president Mahmood Khan has a good chance of winning the Feb 8 election in his native Swat district, insist observers.

Swat is considered a stronghold of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which swept the 2013 and 2018 general elections in the district.

Mr Mahmood parted ways with the PTI after the May 9 violent protests and became part of the PTI-P founded by former chief minister of the party Pervez Khattak.

Political observers insist Mr Mahmood had influence in his home district due to the execution of mega development projects and provision of government jobs to locals, so he would secure victory in election.

Say ex-CM executed uplift projects, gave away govt jobs to locals

Senior journalist Fayaz Zafar told Dawn that Swat residents voted for candidates considering the government jobs provided to them and not the development projects executed in the area, so Mr Mahmood and former MPA Mr Mohibullah Khan as PTI-P nominees were likely to win their respective assembly seats.

Mr Mahmood is a candidate for the National Assembly seat NA-4 and provincial assembly seat PK-10, while Mr Mohibullah will contest election in PK-9 constituency.

Mr Zafar said the PTI nominees were contesting elections independently with different symbols, which could confuse the party’s voters, and if that happened, the PTI-P would benefit.

However, resident Ali Khan said the people appreciated the projects executed by ex-CM Mahmood Khan in Swat butthe latter shouldn’t have left the PTI.

“He [Mahmood] was my favourite as long as he was part of the PTI. He lost his value in my eyes due to exit from the party,” he said.

Another Swat resident, Nasreen Bibi, also complained about the departure ofMr Mahmood from the PTI saying the move “raises questions abouthisloyalty and motives.”

However, some residents of Matta tehsil favoured Mr Mahmood and Mr Muhibullah insisting both lawmakers served people in their respective constituencies.

“They [Mahmood and Muhibullah] not only carried out several development projects here but also gave away government jobs to the people, so we all are indebted to them and will vote for them,” said resident Irfan Ali.

In NA-4, Mr Mahmood will face retired Brigadier Mohammad Saleem Khan of the ANP, Sohail Sultan of the PTI, Rahimullah of the JUI-F, Fazal Subhan of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Kamal Khan Shamakhel of the PPP, Mohammad Raza Khan of the TLP and Malik Zada of the Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party.

Observers told Dawn that the political landscape in Swat was dynamic with voters balancing between loyalty to established parties and the promises of new entrants making the Feb 8 elections a closely watched affair.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have claimed the party will win Swat region’s national and provincial assembly seats in the Feb 8 elections.

They recently met in Mingora and vowed to support the party’s election nominees, including provincial president Amir Muqam (NA-2), Wajid Ali Khan (NA-3) and Irshad Khan (PK-6).

Noted among participants were PML-N provincial general secretary Fazal Rehman Nono, president of the Malakand Division Traders’ Federation Abdur Rahim and leader Sadiq Aziz.

Candidates Wajid Ali Khan and Irshad Khan were also in attendance.

The participants said they along with other activists would go from door to door to canvass for the party’s nominees.

They said after forming the next elected government, the PML-N would address critical national issues, especially high inflation, to the relief of people.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2024