Seasoned KP politicians face defeat in polls

PESHAWAR: The top leadership of different political parties failed to win their seats in the national and provincial assembly after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) completed a hat-trick of winning the majority of seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the third consecutive general elections as per the provisional results.

Those who were unable to win their seats included the Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq, chairman of Qaumi Watan Party Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Senior Vice-President of Awami National Party (ANP) and former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti, provincial president of ANP Aimal Wali Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians Pervez Khattak and former chief minister Mahmood Khan.

According to the provisional results, Noor Alam Khan, a candidate of JUIF, obtained 138,389 votes in NA-28 Peshawar while his rival Sajid Nawaz, an independent backed by the PTI got 65,119 votes. Former speaker of KP Assembly Kiramatullah Chagharmati of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) got 14,830 votes. In the last polls, Noor Alam was elected an MNA from the constituency on the ticket of PTI but he later parted ways with the party.

In NA-30 Peshawar, former PTI MNA Shandana Gulzar got 78,971 votes against 20,950 from Nasir Musazai of JUIF and 11,854 votes by Arbab Zain Umar of ANP. In NA-31, former MNA Arbab Sher Ali of the PTI defeated Arbab Alamgir of PPP. Sher Ali secured 82,985 votes while Alamgir could get 22,543.

An independent candidate Bashir Khan won from NA-6 in Dir with 81,060 votes to defeat JI chief Siraj Ul Haq who got 56,538 votes. In NA-44, Dera Ismail Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur defeated JUIF Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Ali received 93,443 votes against 59,922 of Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as an independent candidate from NA-10 Buner while getting 110,023 votes against 30,302 of Abdul Rauf of ANP. Umar Ayub Khan of PTI won the NA-18 Haripur seat with 192,948 votes while the runner-up Babar Nawaz of PMLN got 112,389 votes. In NA-22 Mardan, Atif Khan, an independent backed by the PTI, defeated the Senior Vice-President of ANP Ameer Haider Hoti. Atif got 114,748 votes while Hoti bagged 66,159 votes. Hoti accepted the defeat and announced quitting his party position.

In NA-21 Mardan, an independent Mujahid Ali secured 116,049 votes while Azam Khan of JUIF got 60,373. In NA-25 Charsadda, an independent candidate Fazal Khan was elected with 100,713 votes against 67,876 of ANP KP president Aimal Wali. In NA-19 Swabi, Asad Qaisar of PTI emerged victorious by securing 115,635 votes against 45,567 of Fazal Ali of JUIF.

Another independent candidate Yousuf Khan was elected from NA-36 Hangu with 73,076 votes. Also, independent candidate Ali Khan Jadoon was elected from Abbottabad with 97,177 votes. Former CM Sardar Mehtab Ali Khan also lost in this constituency.

Sardar Yousuf of PMLN won the NA-14 Mansehra seat with 115,544 votes against 103,333 of independent Salim Imran. Independent candidate Sajid Khan was elected from NA-26 Mohmand with 41,489 votes. Another independent Nawaz Khan was elected from NA-13 Battagran with 32,164 votes. An independent candidate Sibghatullah was elected from NA-5 in Upper Dir by obtaining 90,261 votes. In NA-45, DI Khan-2 Fatehullah of PPP got 56,933 votes to defeat Ubaidur Rehman of JUIF who received 48,343 votes.