As arrangements have been finalized for by-elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) scheduled to be held on Sunday, a tough competition is expected on NA-35 (Bannu), PK-97 and PK-99 (Dera Ismail Khan) seats between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) contenders.
The by-polls will be held on one National Assembly (NA) and nine provincial assembly seats where locals predict a neck and neck showdown between candidates of PTI and MMA.
Incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan had vacated the National Assembly seat in Bannu.
Zahid Akram Khan Durrani of the MMA, Sayeda Yasmin Safdar of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PTI’s Nasim Ali Shah are the main candidates for the NA slot.
Similarly, Faisal Amin Gandapur, brother of minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, is a powerful runner for PK-97 Dera Ismail Khan. However, Malik Farhan Dhap of the PPP is also expected to offer a tough resistance to his rival contender.
The incumbent Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Ali Ameen Khan Gandapur, had vacated the provincial assembly seat, PK-97.
Haroon Ahmad Bilour’s wife is contesting on PK-78 Peshawar. Bilour was martyred in a suicide attack during an election rally days before the general election.
Similarly, by-elections will be held in PK-3 and PK-7 (Swat), PK-44 (Swabi), PK-53 (Mardan), PK-61, PK-61 and PK-64 (Nowshera), PK-78 (Peshawar) and PK-97 and PK-99 (Dera Ismail Khan).
Elections could not be held in PK-78 and PK-99 due to the martyrdom of ANP candidate Haroon Bilour and PTI contender Ikramullah Khan Gandapur, respectively in suicide attacks.
Similarly, PK-44 Swabi seat fell vacant as Asad Qaisar, speaker of National Assembly, had retained his NA seat. Defence Minister Pervez Khattak vacated two provincial assembly seats, including PK-61 and PK-64. He had retained his NA seat.
Published in Daily Times, September 12th 2018.