3 political heavyweights in face-off on NA-2 Swat

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR : Three political heavyweights of different parties are in face-off on National Assembly constituency( NA-2) Swat-1 where electioneering has picked up momentum despite foggy weather.

According to electoral list issued by the respective returning officer, a total of nine candidates of different political parties and independent are flexing muscle in the said constituency including PML-N KP President, Engr Amir Muqam, Pakistan Peoples Party leader and ex MNA, Dr Haider Ali Khan, former provincial minister Mohammad Ayub Khan of ANP, Naveed Iqbal of Jamat e Islami and JUI-F candidate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor besides others.

Politcal observers believed tough electoral contest among Engr Amir Muqam, Dr Haider Ali and Ayub Khan who started contacting large tribes to get support for election 2024. Dr Haider Ali had been elected from the constituency with 61,687 votes against Amir Maqam of PML-N who secured second position with 41,125 votes and Naveed Iqbal of ANP clinched third position with 18,088 votes in 2018 election.

Former MNA Salimur Rehman who contested election on PTI ticket won it after securing 49,887 votes while Amir Maqam of PML-N got second position with 32,853 votes and JUI-F’s Hafeezur Rehman clinched third position with16,639 votes respectively in 2013 general election. Similarly in 2008 elections, Syed Alauddin won the constituency with 24,063 votes against Shujaat Ali Khan of PML-Q with 16,337 votes and independent candidate Advocate Sher Bahadur Khan secured third position with 7,894 votes.

Mutahidda Majls-i-Amal’s Dr Fazal Subhan won this constituency with 67,085 votes while PML-Q’s Shujaat Ali Khan clinched second position with 15,680 votes and Salimur Rahman of PPP got 3rd position with 10,867 votes in 2002 election respectively. As many as 485,400 registered voters including 265,578 men and 219,822 women for whom 341 polling stations includes 60 for men and 50 for women were setup to decide fate of these candidates on February 8, 2024.

Former Provincial Minister, Wajid Ali Khan told APP that the constituency was mostly comprised of upper areas of Swat including Kalam, Bahrain, Madyan, Fatehpur, Khawaza Khela, Charbagh, Malam Jabba, Sangota, Kokari and Jambil where people are mostly associated with transport, tourism and hotel industry. He said that political candidates would have to make an extra effort to bring voters to political stations in case of snowfall and rains in these mountainous areas.

Wajid said that 2022 floods had badly affected communication infrastructure and hotels industry in these areas and its rehabilitation would be a big challenge for the new government. Meanwhile, election campaign in the constituency was in full swing where candidates were addressing public and corner meetings besides rallies to persuade voters. Political observers said that young voters will play an important role in deciding fate of these candidates on February 8, 2024. (APP)