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Top News

Sexagenarian politicians add color to 2018 elections

PESHAWAR: Senior politicians of different political parties, aging 60s and above, remained the centre of political a
Published July 19, 2018

PESHAWAR: Senior politicians of different political parties, aging 60s and above, remained the centre of political attraction for people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where they are being challenged by new entrants and conventional politicians on national and provincial assembly constituencies.

All eyes are set on NA-31 Peshawar (former NA-I) where Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, aged 79, is being confronted by 13 candidates including PTI’s Haji Shaukat Ali, PMLN’s Muhammad Nadeem, MMA’s Sadiq Paracha and Akunzada Irfanullah Shah of PPPP.

Popularly known as Haji Sahib and loyalist of ANP, Bilour saw many ups and down in his long political career and earned respect from people and politicians.

He started political career after joining ANP in 1970s following participation in presidential election campaign of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah in 1965. He was elected to Senate of Pakistan in 1975.

He contested 1988 election from then NA-1 Peshawar but remained unsuccessful and lost to another senior politician and Chairman Quammi Watan Party Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on PPP ticket. Bilour emerged victorious in by-election in 1988 and became member of the national assembly for first time. He was later re-elected MNA for the second time in 1990 election, defeating PPP slain Chairperson Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. He again elected to national assembly in 1993 and 2008 from his home constituency of NA-I. However, he lost 2013 election to PTI Chief Imran Khan but again became successful in by-election 2013 from the same constituency.

Ghulam Bilour had served Federal Minister for Railways twice and Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development. He faced difficult situation with courage after tragic assassination of his brother Bashir Ahmed Bilour and his son Haroo Bilour and confirmed news of martyrdom of all family members before media.

Aftab Ahmed Ahmed Sherpao aged (74), who is the Chairman of Quammi Watan Party, is another senior politician contesting from NA 21-Charssadda-I where he is being challenged by PTI’s Anwar Taj, Munzoor Ahmed of PPP, Tahira Bukhari PMLN, Gulzar Ahmed Khan of ANP and Zafar Ali Shah MMA.

Known as Baba e Rozgar (father of employment in Charsadda), Sherpao started political career with Pakistan Peoples Party in 1975 after assassination of his elder brother Hayat Sherpao in a bomb blast in Peshawar. He was elected MNA for first time in 1977 from the then NA-3 and was remained undefeated in 1988, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2013 besides served as Chief Minister KP twice and Federal Minister for Interior 2008-13. Sherpao had survived a number of suicide attacks and remained within people despite threats to his life.

Similarly, on NA-24 Charssda-II, ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan aged 70 is being challenged by PTI Fazal Muhammad Khan and former MNA Moulana Gohar Shah.

ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan saw many ups and down during his long political career and served as leader of the Pakhtun student federation prior to being elected to the provincial Assembly in the 1990 election and elected member of the national assembly in 1993, 1997 and 2008.

In 2003 he was elected to the Senate and served as Chairman of Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly in 2008-2013.

PMLN President Mian Shahbaz Sharif (67) is also contesting from NA 3 Swat where he is being challenged by PTI leader and former MNA Salimur Rehman and others. The JUIF has withdrawn his candidate in favour of Shahbaz Sharif owing to seat adjustment between the two parties. The dramatic change in the constituency has improved chances of Shahbaz Sharif to make a serious dent in the NA-3 Constituency previously own by PTI Salimur Rehman in 2013. The Punjab Governor had constructed Nawaz Sharif Kidney hospital in Swat that may benefit Shahbaz Sharif.

PTI Chief Imran Khan, aged 66, is contesting election from NA 35 Bannu against MMA stalwart and former Federal Minister Akram Khan Durrani. Imran Khan had given an open challenge to Akram Durrani at a public meeting year back that he would defeat JUI-F senior leader in his own constituency in general election 2018. Keeping his words, the PTI Chief moved to Bannu and challenged Durrani for the July 25 elections.

JUIF Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman (65) is contesting election from DI Khan from NA-38 and NA-39 DI Khan where he is being challenged by PTI and PPP in his stronghold. He is a seasoned political and served as opposition leader in National Assembly in 2002 and Chairman National Assembly Committee for Kashmir Affairs in 2008-13.

Former CM KP Pervez Khattak aged 69, is flexing muscle for NA-25 Nowshera-I and PK-64 on PTI ticket where he will face ANP’s Juma Khan and PPP Pervez Khan and others political rivals. He was elected MPA five times, remained provincial minister thrice and became 22nd Chief Minister of KP (2013-2018). Khattak also remained the first district nazim in Nowshera and is the cousin of Nasrullah Khattak who served the chief minister of the province when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the prime minister of Pakistan.

The senior politicians are remained centre of attractions for people, voters and young politicians and if they win their experiences in parliamentary politics would immensely benefit young members of the parliament.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2018

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