PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE (N)
IN CIRCLE BAKOTE
Election in PK-45
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Searched & Written by
MOHAMMED OBAIDULLAH ALVI
Journalist, Historian, Bloger and Anthropologist
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Sardar Mehtab, sitting Governor KPK
This is a big question and frequently being
discussed in political circles of Abbottabad, especially Circle Bakote. This
would on the one hand prove the popularity of the PTI and on the other may also
prove the dominance of PML-N, which has never lost election in this
constituency since 1988. The seat fell vacant following the resignation of
Mehtab Ahmed Khan after he was appointed governor of the province. According to
the Election Commission’s schedule, election would be held on June 5, 2014.
Six candidates, including Akram Abbasi of the
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam(F), Manzoor Mumtaz of the Pakistan People’s Party, Changez
Abbasi of the PPP-Shaheed Bhutto, Sardar Fareed Abbassi of the PML-N and Ali
Asghar Khan of the PTI, are in the run. Saeed Abbassi of Jamaat-e-Islami has
with drawn his nomination in favour of Ali Asgher Khan.
The PTI chief
Imran Khan has addressed public meetings in Berote and Patan Kalan on May 24 and
will at Kohala and Boi areas on June 3. A tough contest is expected between
candidates of both the ruling political parties - the PML-N that rules the
Centre and PTI, which is at helm of affairs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sardar Mehtab and his family members have won
the seat consecutive during the last six elections since 1988. During the May
2013 elections, Sardar Mehtab was defeated on the National Assembly seat NA-17
but he retained his victory in his hometown and defeated the PTI’s candidate
with a 12,000 vote margin. The PML-N was expected to announce former MPA Sardar
Shamoon Yar Khan, 2nd son of Sardar Mehtab, but it decided to award
party ticket to newly entrant Sardar Fareed, elder son of Circle Bakote king maker late Haji Serfraz Kham and first cousin of Sardar Mehtab.
PML N condidate Sardar Freed Khan
This decision has removed the differences
within the party and strengthened its political position. The PML-N Youth Wing
president and MNA from NA-21, Mansehra, Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar, who is
son-in-law of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has also announced support to Sardar
Fareed.
On the
other hand, the PTI has awarded ticket to the party’s vice-president Ali Asghar
Khan, son of Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan, despite the fact that he does not
belong to the constituency and is totally depending on the party, which might
prove his weak point.
Ali Asghar is younger brother of late Omer
Asghar Khan and once contested elections for National Assembly constituency
NA-17, Abbottabad, but could not get sizeable votes. Though uncertainty
prevails with regard to the outcome of coming by-election, political observers
say the PTI made a mistake by not awarding party ticket to a candidate from
local Dhund Abbassi tribe, such as Abdur Rehman Abbassi, Nazeer Abbassi or
Mubeen Abbassi.
Media & Propaganda war
LATEST NEWS
Sardar Mehtab using helicopter for political campaigning in Abbotabad/
Nathiagali, Bakote, Birote, Boi, Patan and his native village Malkote, at an
operating cost of $4500-10000: Dr Shireen Mazari
SLAMABAD - Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has questioned the use of two helicopters by PML-N
nominated Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi, at
an operating cost of $4500-10000 for almost 25 hours this month, which will be
borne by the KP government.
PTI Central Information
Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari said in a statement issued from party’s central
secretariat that governor KP used this helicopter for political campaigning in
his old political constituency of Abbotabad/ Nathiagali, Bakote, Birote, Boi,
Patan and his native village Malkote rather than official business, which
should be focused on FATA. Mazari said there was a bye-election in PK-45 and it
was unethical for a governor to interfere in electioneering in his province, as
it would be tantamount to rigging. She demanded that he should desist from any
activity that could be construed as political campaigning for an election and
conduct himself within the proper confines of his ceremonial office. She added
that his place for political supervision is FATA and not interference in the
politics of KP. The PTI has taken notice of this and has objected to it in the
strongest possible terms, the statement said. (Daily The Nation, 27thMay, 2014)
(To be continued)