PESHAWAR: Despite criticism from the masses, major political parties have awarded tickets to the influential families and relatives of the main leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for the upcoming general elections to be held next month, a leading newspaper reported.
Like the previous elections near and dears of the top leadership from different political parties are contesting for provincial and national assembly seats. However, the trend seems a bit dormant with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and the party still managed to avoid family politics.
Other leading political and religious parties comprising Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P), Awami National Party (ANP) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) are surpassing other parties to field more influential candidates, particularly those relatives of the key party leaders.
Long List of Family Politics in KP
As per the final list of the candidates, JUI-F near relatives of JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Central Leader Akram Khan Durrani are contesting elections from the southern districts.
Apart from Maulana Fazlur Rehman (NA-44, Dera Ismail Khan), his sons Maulana Asad Rehman and Maulana . Maulana Asajad Rehman would contest from NA-43, Tank, and NA-41, Lakki Marwat. Two younger brothers of the JUI-F chief, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, and Maulana Ubaidur Rehman, are contesting for the provincial assembly seats from DI Khan.
Meanwhile, beside Akram Khan Durrani (two KP seats in Bannu), his son Zahid Akram Durrani would contest for the National Assembly seat from Bannu District.
After JUI-F, the family members of the former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak are also contesting from different constituencies. His brother Liaqat Khattak and nephew Ahad Khattak would contest the elections for PK-87 and PK-88, respectively, in the Nowshera district while representing JUI-F.
Besides Pervez Khattak (one NA and Two provincial seats), his two sons, Ibrahim Khattak and Ismail Khattak, are contesting elections for PK-85 and PK-86 in Nowshera. Khattak’s son-in-law and nephew, Dr Imran Khattak, would contest for NA-33 and PK-89 in Nowshera.
From the PTI, Omar Ayub Khan and his close relatives Arshad Ayub and Akbar Ayub would contest from Haripur. Meanwhile, Ali Amin Gandapur would contest for one National Assembly and two provincial assembly constituencies in DI Khan, while his brother Faisal Amin Gandapur would test his luck from the same district provincial assembly seat.
Former speaker Asad Qaisar and his brother Aqibullah Khan are contesting elections for national and provincial assembly seats from Swabi, while Shahram Khan Tarakai and Faisal Khan Tarakai would contest elections for NA-20 and PK-52, respectively, from the same district.
From the PML-N, provincial president Amir Muqam would contest for two NA and one provincial assembly in Swat and Shangla while his brother Dr Ibad would test his luck for a provincial assembly seat in Shangla.
Provincial spokesperson for the PML-N Ikhtiyar Wali Khan would be present in the run for one National And 1 provincial slot, while his brother Liaqat Wali would contest the election for PK-85 while representing the same political party.
The party also awarded tickets for former MNA Shah Jee Gul Afridi (NA) and his son and nephew Bilawal Afridi and Shafiq Afridi (KP) from Khyber District.
From the PPP side, former federal minister Arbab Alamgir Khan would test his skills for the national assembly, his son Arbab Zarak Khan for PK-80, Peshawar, while his wife Asma Alamgir has been nominated for the reserved seat for women for the National Assembly.
From Charsadda, QWP Chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and his son Sikandar Hayat Sherpao are contesting elections for the slots of national and provincial assembly seats. Besides, there are scores of other leading politicians who not only inducted themselves for the run but left no stone unturned to accommodate their family members. They included the former speaker of the KP Assembly Kiramatullah Chagharmati and his nephew Razaullah, Usman Khan Tarakai, Biland Khan Tarakai, Faisal Karim Kundi, his brother Ahmad Karim Kundi, Ghulam Ahmad, Samar Haroon Bilour and scores of others.
