KOHAT: A neck-and-neck contest is expected in NA-35 constituency here on Feb 8 between two times MNA and former state minister Sheharyar Afridi of the PTI and former senator Abbas Afridi of the PML-N, according to observers.

They told Dawn that the presence of JUI-F old guard Seth Saifullah Khan Bangash, who lost previous elections by a close margin, in the electoral arena couldn’t be ignored.

The observers said Mr Bangash could spring a surprise on the election day as the party had fielded strong candidates in the three provincial assembly constituencies, which were part of the National Assembly constituency.

They also claimed that the election candidates named by Imran Khan’s PTI were popular among voters in the district.

Main contenders include Sheharyar of PTI, Abbas of PML-N

They, however, said PTI leader and former law minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi had revolted against election nomination for PK-91 causing troubles for the party.

In KP-90, PTI district president Aftab Iqbal will face three-time election winner as independent candidate, Amjad Afridi, who remained part of the Awami National Party and the PTI, and was currently associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party.

He is the “most influential” political person in the constituency as he and his brother, PML-N’s Abbas Afridi, carried out massive development work, according to observers.

JUI-F candidate Mohammad Shoaib of Darra Adamkhel, which is now part of KP-90, also has large voter support, especially of religious people.

In KP-91, the PTI, according to observers, has fielded a “very weak” candidate, Daud Afridi, who will face party dissident and former MPA, Imtiaz Qureshi, who is contesting election independently.

Another strong candidate in the area is Iqbal Fana, who won the 2008 election as a nominee of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

He recently quit the Jamaat-i-Islami after a long affiliation to join the JUI-F after being approached by a jirga.

PML-N’s NA-35 candidate Abbas Afridi is contesting election here as well.

Former minister Ziaullah Bangash, who joined the PTI-Parliamentarians, has jumped into the electoral arena of KP-92.

He will be challenged by PTI nominee Shafi Jan whose father laid the party’s foundation in Kohat in 1996. Mr Jan is a favourite candidate for the seat, according to observers.

In the last local body polls when PTI leader Imran Khan fielded Suleman Shinwari, son of provincial deputy information secretary Shahbaz Shinwari, Mr Jan stood in the electoral contest as an independent candidate.

Division in the PTI led to the victory of Qari Sher Zaman of the JUI-F as city mayor.

Mr Jan was later invited to Islamabad by former prime minister Imran Khan, who asked him to bury the hatchet and work for the party again.

Also in the running are Johar Saifullah Khan Bangash of the JUI-F as well as Dr Zulfiqar of the PPP, who has a sizable support in the “Mini Larkana” of Bangash belt on the Hangu Road.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024