Extremists destroy 12 government schools, most for girls only on August 4, 2018Islamabad: Multiple protests were staged by rights groups and political activists across Diamer district against the local administration which was accused of turning a blind eye to extremist outfits in the region. Meanwhile, a security operation remained underway all day on Friday against perpetrators of the attacks on 12 government schools, including two run by […]
Sporadic protests underway over rigging allegations on July 29, 2018Sporadic protests against alleged rigging in general elections were underway till Saturday evening in Mansehra, Batagram, and Charsadda. Meanwhile, a sit-in by dozens of workers of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) ended in former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s constituency in Murree after his announcement that party leadership would devise a course of action to […]
Can Khattaks’ family influence make up for poor performance? on July 25, 2018NOWSHERA Travelling from Nowshera city to Manki Sharif, the native village of former KPK chief minister, Parveez Khattak, election posters and banners can be seen for just two parties: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Awami National party (ANP). No other candidate from any political party or an independent has found it necessary to put up campaign […]
The district Hoti secured at the cost of the province on July 25, 2018MARDAN Many in Mardan claim that when he was heading the provincial government from 2008 to 2013, Amir Haider Hoti invested a major chunk of the provincial budget on his native city of Mardan to secure his electoral chances here, at the behest of other parts of the province. Dozens of developmental projects (roads, flyovers, […]
Where money talks, party loyalties get ignored on July 24, 2018SHANGLA On a rainy afternoon in Puran village of Shangla, PML(N) provincial president and former adviser to the Prime Minister, Amir Muqam’s convoy accompanied with three vehicles of the police department is on the road for his brother Ibadullah Khan’s election campaign. Ibadullah has been an MNA from the constituency which was represented by Muqam […]
N’s megaprojects compete against PTI’s tsunami on July 20, 2018SWAT The electoral race in Swat district has gained prominence because of the PML-N’s decision to field its president Shehbaz Sharif from NA 3 (Old NA29) against former MNA from the area, PTI’s Saleem Rehman. Other candidates in the constituency are ANP’s Abdul Karim, and PPP’s Shahryar Amirzeb, and Maulana Hujjatullah Hujjatullah was earlier a […]
Electoral arena remains in firm grip of traditional elite on July 15, 2018BAJAUR Because of their families’ traditional hold of natural resources, most importantly land, the Khans of Bajaurs have dominated the electoral politics of Bajaur for decades. Though the region has yet to see any organised political effort from the hitherto (politically) marginalised groups, the frustration among the educated middle classes of Bajaur with respect to […]
ANP was hijacked by ‘seculars’ after Soviet-Afghan war: Maulana Tayyab on July 13, 2018BUNIR: Renowned cleric Maulana Tayyab of Swabi Thursday announced support to Awami National Party (ANP) candidates in the upcoming general elections. Maulana Tayyab announced this while addressing a huge gathering at a local religious school linked to the former in Bunir. Scores of ANP contenders were also present. In his address, the noted scholar said […]
‘A pro-people campaign’ in the age of big money on July 10, 2018PARTY PROFILE ‘Jab tak janta tang rahege, jang rahege, jang rahege Jab tak bhook aur nang rahege, jang rahege, jang rahege’ [Our struggle will continue as long as there is humger, depravity and injustice in the society] A group of young activists of left-wing Awami Workers Party (AWP) chanting the slogan at the top of […]
Two-time MNA from influential Malik family faces vibrant party campaigns on July 7, 2018MOHMAND The mobilisation done by the Pashtun Tahhafuz Movement and a relatively well-charged campaign by political parties is set to give two time Member of National Assembly (MNA) from Mohmand, Malik Bilal Rehman, a run for his money in NA-42 (old NA-36). The odds may further get stacked against him with a higher than usual […]