The contesting of election by six top political leaders is going to make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a real political battle-field in the upcoming general elections. Before the upcoming general elections Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had 35 National Assembly constituencies. But after the latest census the number was raised to 39 and now after the merger of FATA with KP the total number of seats has climbed to 51.
The increase in the number of constituencies is attracting all political parties to get maximum share in it. For this purpose, beside the political parties whose central leadership hails from the province, other top leaders including PTI chairman, Imran Khan, PPP chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N president, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and president of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), Pervez Musharraf are contesting elections from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PTI chairman, Imran Khan has selected NA-35 Bannu for contest while Bilawal Bhutto, Shahbaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf are going to participate from NA-8 (Malakand), NA-10 (Shangla) and NA-1, Chitral respectively.
The chief of the revived religious-political alliance, (MMA) Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman is likely to contest elections from his hometown DI Khan and District Lakki Marwat respectively while the central ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will contest from any of the two National Assembly constituencies from Dir Lower.
The tough and interesting election contest awaits in NA-35 (Bannu) from where the PTI chief will face senior JUI-F leader and former chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akram Khan Durrani. Being a former chief minister, Durrani enjoys tight grip over the local politics of the district.
Out of the four MPAs from the district in dissolved assembly two were affiliated with JUI-F while third was affiliated with PPP and fourth was elected independent, but later joined the PTI. The district and tehsil nazims under the constituency also belong to JUI-F.
The likely candidature of the Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has brought election in NA-8 (Malakand Protected Area) into limelight. The young heir to Bhutto legacy will face former PTI MNA Junaid Akbar Khan and candidates of PML-N, ANP and MMA respectively. But, the actual contest will be fought between Bilawal and Junaid Akbar Khan.
District Malakand was being considered a PPP stronghold and till recent past it was also called mini-Larkana, as in most of the past elections the PPP candidates had remained victorious from here. During last seven general elections, the PPP candidate had remained triumphant in four elections.
The PPP founding chairman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had paid several visits to the area. The present provincial president PPP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also hails from the same constituency. In the general elections 2008, the constituency was clinched by senior leader, Lal Mohammad Khan, who had also served as federal minister in Yusuf Raza Gilani headed cabinet.
According to political observers and dynamics of the constituency, the party has given good results in this constituency even in worst conditions. In last general elections, the PPP candidate was runner-up and succeeded in obtaining one provincial assembly seat from the area. The party also enjoys the support of the District Nazim and one tehsil nazims of the district.
Similarly, the provincial president, PML-N, Ameer Muqam has invited his party president, Shahbaz Sharif to contest from his constituency NA-10 (Shangla). Due to the influence of Ameer Muqam, Shahbaz Sharif is likely to have smooth sailing.
The interesting contest will be held on NA-1, Chitral from where former military dictator General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf is flexing muscles to participate. The construction of Lowari Tunnel, a longstanding demand of the locals has turned Pervez Musharraf popular amongst Chitralis.
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