PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakthunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain is facing tough electoral challenge in his home constituency PK-12 Nowshera-I at the hand of Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate.

PTI has fielded Mian Khaliqur Rehman from the constituency who lost the 2008 election to Mian Iftikhar Hussain by a thin margin of around 200 votes.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain was very vocal in the just concluded ANP led coalition government in Khyber Pakthunkhwa being an official spokesman, has earned good reputation in war against terror and was awarded Tamagh-e-Imtaiz for his supreme courage and bravery by the previous government.

The political observers believed that PTI candidate would give tough time to Mian Iftikhar Hussain as the latter was facing tremendous difficulties in running the election campaign in his constituency due to threats to his life by the banned militants' outfits.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain has virtually been barred from visiting the constituency in the election campaign that will certainly benefit the PTI contender to cash on the situation.

Mian Iftikhar has been asked by the party's leadership to confine his election activities only to Bacha Khan Markaz, Peshawar instead of coming in public open.

The former Information Minister has started receiving delegations of elders from his constituency in Bacha Khan Markaz, Peshawar as part of his election campaign.

On the other side, Pakistan Muslim League-N is likely to give party ticket to its leader Hussain Ahmed Khattak.

PK-12 Nowshera-1 is consisted of urban and rural areas including Pabbi Tehsil, Khuderzai village, Taru Jabba, Akbarpura, Babi Jadeed, Kandi Taza Deen, Nasir Kally, Chowk e Mumraz, Wazir Ghari, Hakeem Ghari, Dag Ismail Khel, Dag Behsud, Dhagai villages.

The people are mostly associated with agriculture, transport, Govt jobs while many are living in Gulf States for jobs.

The literacy rate in the constituency is relatively high compare to PK-13 Nowshera-2 and candidate win support of old politicians and strong families would certain get through to Khyber Pakthunkhwa Assembly.