SWABI: Shahram Khan Tarakai, MNA-elect from NA-20, Swabi-II, who is wanted in corruption cases, is expected to surface soon, sources in the Tarakai House here told Dawn on Sunday.

Shahram has been in the hiding after the May 9, 2023 incidents. There were various prophecies about him, but most believed that he had gone abroad. However, he remained in contact with the workers through social media.

Despite the fact that he didn’t physically run campaign he achieved a thumping victory.

“Staying away from constituents could have cost Mr Shahram dearly, but we formulated a result-oriented strategy and implemented it with great skill. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf tigers did their job with strong determination,” said the Tarakai House sources, adding Shahram emerged victorious with a thumping margin of 75,429 votes over his rival.

The sources said Shahram clinched the victory despite the fact that his uncle, Usman Khan Tarakai, parted ways with him and contested elections from another party’s platform.

They said had Shahram contested a provincial constituency and won, he would have been one of the prominent candidates for the chief minister’s slot.

However, the sources said according to the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan they paid attention to the National Assembly constituencies because the idea was that PTI could succeed in forming the government at the federal level.

The sources said that they were making arrangements for Shahram’s return. “Shahram will return as soon as he receives instructions from the party founder.”

The sources said if PTI succeeded in forming government at the centre, Shahram would get a key ministry.

When contacted, officials in the district administration said Shahram would have to face law as he was wanted in corruption cases regarding the purchase of equipment for Gajju Khan Medical College, Swabi, and Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital, Shahmansoor, and furniture for public sector schools when he was the education minister.

However, Tarakai House sources said after comfortable win in elections, Shahram was expected to face no difficulty.

They said Tarakai House had informed Imran Khan that they would stand with him in the hour of difficulty.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2024