SWABI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s seat adjustments with Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazriyati (JUI-N) have made the contest among leading candidates more tough and interesting in Swabi district.

PPP and PML-N have decided to support each other in NA-20, Swabi-II, and PK-53, Swabi-V.

As a result, Biland Iqbal Tarakai, PPP candidate for PK-53, has withdrawn in favour of Adil Khan, the PML-N candidate for the same constituency.

Similarly, Afsar Khan, PML-N candidate for NA-20, has given up the contest in favour of Usman Khan Tarakai, PPP candidate for the same constituency.

PPP and PML-N leaders told Dawn that their target was Shahram Khan Tarakai, a nephew of Mr Usman.

Mr Shahram contests from NA-20 and PK-53.

Political observers here said so far Shahram had not surfaced for running the election campaign and the seat adjustment and his absence might harm his political career.

The contest for Shahram has become even tougher after the PTI lost the ‘bat’ symbol.

Meanwhile, in NA-19, Swabi-1, PML-N and JUI-N have struck a seat adjustment. The JUI-N will support Shiraz Khan in PK-49, Swabi-1, and PML-N will support Maulana Khalil Mukhles of JUI-N in NA-19.

Shiraz Khan, who was contesting election from both NA-19 and PK-49, has withdrawn from the former and decided to support Maulana Khalil.

Here the seat adjustment will also impact the rival candidates, who had termed the alliance weak.

PML-N leaders said they had strengthened their position in the district with the seat adjustment.

Insiders said if Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Awami National Party entered a seat adjustment then it would make the election more interesting in the district.

QAISER’S REACTION: Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, while reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict to overturn a Peshawar High Court decision to restore Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ‘bat’ symbol, said on Sunday PTI candidates would contest the election with any symbol.

In a video message posted on his social media account addressing his supporters, he insisted the verdict didn’t reflect the wishes of people.

“All of you (masses) have seen the decision of the Supreme Court, is this verdict in accordance with the law and the aspirations of people? The Constitution gives equal opportunities to all. But this decision has disappointed the entire nation.”

He, however, asked the leaders and workers to not panic and continue to fight hard.

He said the Constitution gave PTI the right to contest the election with its ‘bat’ symbol. He continued: “The Constitution empowers us to put our position and symbol in front of the people so the nation makes a decision.”

Mr Qaiser said PTI was registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan under the Constitution.

“The election commission is a neutral institution and its job is to conduct free and fair elections and give level playing field to all, but it has become a party against PTI.”

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024