SHANGLA: A tough contest is expected between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s provincial president Amir Muqam and Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf-backed Haji Said Fareen Khan in the lone National Assembly seat in Shangla.

A total of 16 candidates are running for NA-11.

Mr Fareen joined PTI in 2021 after serving ANP for 29 years.

Shangla has three provincial assembly seats. Earlier, the district had two PA seats, but one seat was added after the recent delimitation.

PML-N’s Muqam, PTI’s Fareen, Aurangzeb Khan of ANP, who is former secretary local government and father of former MPA Faisal Zeb Khan; Mohammad Alam Khan, a coalmine contractor from PPP, Mian Nazeer Rehman of PTI-P, independent Mohammad Pervaiz Khan, who is Muqam’s relative and uncle of former MPA Fazalullah Khan of Puran, Sayed Ghaffar Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami and Bahri-i-Room of Awami Workers Party are the main contenders for the NA seat.

Mr Muqam has also joined hands with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl for a seat adjustment. JUI-F is supporting PML-N in two provincial and one NA seat, and PML-N is supporting JUI-F in PK-29.

Immediately after the announcement of seat adjustment, JUI-F local leaders and ticket aspirants Dr Abid Khan and Ammad Ahmad Khan had addressed news conferences, disagreeing with the party’s decision. They have announced to boycott PML-N in their respective constituencies.

However, on Saturday, PML-N KP chief visited both the disgruntled leaders of JUI-F and addressed their grievances.

In 2018 election, PML-N’s Dr Ibadullah Khan, Mr Muqam’s brother, had won the National Assembly seat, then NA-10. His rival Haji Sadeed Ur Rehman of ANP, who is now in PTI, remained the runner-up. His father, Said Fareen is now running for NA-11.

PTI Alpuri tehsil chairman Waqar Ahmad Khan was also in the close contest in the last election as he came third.

Mr Muqam’s election bid is marred with the emergence of three candidates from his hometown of Puran – his relative Raja Pervaiz Khan, JI candidate Syed Ghaffar Khan and Aurangzeb Khan. Moreover, the announcement of poll boycott of PML-N by the Chakesar tehsil elders would further impact Mr Muqam’s poll outcome. The elders had accused Mr Muqam of being involved in the final delimitations, which divided the Chakesar tehsil into all the provincial constituencies of the district.

Mr Muqam is contesting the NA seat after a long gap as his brother, Ibadullah Khan, had won the NA seat in last election. Mr Ibadullah is now contesting PK-30, Shangla-III.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024