PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, PML-Q name candidates in PK-8 by-election

PTI, ANP, QWP, JI holding consultation to name nominee

PESHAWAR: The political parties are preparing to contest the by-election scheduled to be held on May 12 in the provincial assembly constituency PK-8 that fell vacant after the death of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Arbab Akbar Hayat Khan.

The parties forming part of the PTI-led coalition government and the opposition parties have nominated their own candidates instead of fielding joint candidates.

The PML-N has decided to award party ticket to Arbab Waseem, the son-in-law of the late party MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat.  .

The PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have nominated former MPAs Malik Tehmash Khan and Asif Iqbal Daudzai. The latter had also served as a provincial minister in the MMA government from 2002-2008.

The Awami National Party (ANP), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) and Jamaat-i-Islami have constituted committees to finalise the names of their candidates for the by-polls. .

The PML-Q has fielded Arbab Mir Afzal Khan Daudzai, the cousin of the deceased MPA Arbab Akbar Hayat.

Taking to The News, PML-Q provincial president Intikhab Chamkani recalled that his party’s government had executed development work in NA-3 and PK-8 constituencies and that was the reason the people voted for PML-Q
candidates in the previous elections.

He said Arbab Akbar Hayat was a PML-Q worker but later joined the PML-N.

PPP general secretary Humayun Khan said his party enjoyed popular support and their former MPA Malik Tehmash had served the people during the previous government.

He said his party had bounced back after losing the 2013 and won two by-elections for the provincial assembly in Chitral and Upper Dir districts.

ANP leader Abid Daudzai claimed his party was re-emerging and the voters have now realised that the ANP had practically served them during the party’s rule from 2008-2013.

He said his party had bright chances of victory in the by-election.

The JUI-F’s Maulana Jehangir reminded that his party’s candidate Asif Iqbal Daudzai lost the 2013 election with a small number of votes. “This time his opponents would not be able to get any bogus votes as was observed in previous elections,” he stressed.

The QWP’s Tariq Khan said his party would nominate its candidate with the consultation of their workers.

Though efforts by the ruling and opposition parties are continuing to field joint candidates, there has been no breakthrough toward this end yet.

The PTI, which has yet to name its candidate out of the 25 who have applied for the ricket, is hoping it can persuade its allies from the QWP and JI to back its nominee in the by-election.

The PML-N is arguing that the opposition parties should support its candidate as the previous MPA belonged to the PML-N.

However, the PPP and JUI-F have already nominated their candidates and have no intention to withdraw them as both had contested the May 2013 polls also and obtained an impressive number of votes.