PESHAWAR: Despite public criticism, major political parties have allotted tickets to influential families and relatives of key leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for the upcoming general elections scheduled for next month, according to a leading newspaper.
As observed in previous elections, close associates of the top leadership from various political parties are vying for provincial and national assembly seats. However, there is a notable exception with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), which has managed to steer clear of familial politics.
Among the prominent political and religious parties participating in the elections, including 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), the trend of fielding influential candidates, especially relatives of key party leaders, continues.
The finalized list of candidates reveals that JUI-F has nominated close relatives of JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Central Leader Akram Khan Durrani to contest elections in southern districts. Notably, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s sons, Maulana Asad Rehman and Maulana Asajad Rehman, are running for NA-43 (Tank) and NA-41 (Lakki Marwat), respectively. Additionally, two younger brothers of the JUI-F chief, Maulana Lutfur Rehman and Maulana Ubaidur Rehman, are contesting provincial assembly seats from Dera Ismail Khan.
In a similar vein, Akram Khan Durrani’s son, Zahid Akram Durrani, is contesting for the National Assembly seat from Bannu District.
Following JUI-F, family members of former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak are also in the electoral fray in various constituencies. Pervez Khattak’s brother, Liaqat Khattak, and nephew, Ahad Khattak, are contesting elections for PK-87 and PK-88 in the Nowshera district under the JUI-F banner. Additionally, Pervez Khattak’s sons, Ibrahim Khattak and Ismail Khattak, are candidates for PK-85 and PK-86 in Nowshera, while his son-in-law and nephew, Dr. Imran Khattak, are vying for NA-33 and PK-89 in the same district.
From PTI, Omar Ayub Khan and his close relatives Arshad Ayub and Akbar Ayub are contesting from Haripur. Meanwhile, Ali Amin Gandapur is running for one National Assembly and two provincial assembly constituencies in DI Khan, with his brother Faisal Amin Gandapur seeking a provincial assembly seat from the same district.
Former speaker Asad Qaisar and his brother Aqibullah Khan are candidates for national and provincial assembly seats from Swabi, while Shahram Khan Tarakai and Faisal Khan Tarakai are contesting elections for NA-20 and PK-52, respectively, from the same district.
