ABBOTTABAD, April 23: The situation is fast changing in NA-17, Abbottabad constituency ahead of the elections.

Arch rivals Dr Azhar Khan Jadoon of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and former federal minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon have joined hands against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi for the upcoming general elections.

A jirga was held at Amanullah Jadoon’s house, where his supporters and elders from Jadoon tribe persuaded him to support Dr Azhar Jadoon against Sardar Mehtab.

Amanullah Jadoon, who has 40 years political experience to his credit, is an ex-MNA and MPA.

His elder brother, late Iqbal Khan Jadoon, remained the provincial chief minister.

In the 2002 elections, Amanullah Jadoon had won the Na-17 seat by securing 44,716 votes. Dr Azhar Jadoon was the runner-up with 30,949 votes.

In the 2008 elections, Sardar Mehtab won the seat with more than 58,600 votes followed by Dr Azhar Jadoon with 36,300 votes and Amanullah Khan Jadoon with 33,200 votes.

According to political observers, Dr Azhar Jadoon stands a good chance of becoming MNA from the constituency this time around, especially after winning the support of Amanullah Jadoon.

Amanullah Jadoon recently quit PML-Quaid after developing differences with the leadership.

Meanwhile, in NA-18, Abbottabad constituency, Baba Haider Zaman of Tehreek-i-Sooba Hazara, PTI’s Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob and Murtaza Javed Abbasi of PML-N and the key contenders.

The area is dominated by Sardars but there is little presence of Abbasis, Jadoons and other tribes.

Baba Haider had contested the election from the constituency in 1993 and 1997 but lost both times to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.

However, he’s in a better position this time around due to his popular slogan for creation of a separate province for Hazara.