PK-22 Bajaur to witness 2nd by-poll after elections

PESHAWAR: Bajaur is preparing for a second by-poll within five months of the general elections as preparations and electioneering are underway for the July 11 contest on PK-22.As many as 12 candidates are in the run for the by-poll. Some of these contenders are going viral on social media for their stance on various issues related to Bajaur and its people.

Those flexing muscles for the slot included Muhammad Nisar Baz of Awami National Party, Rahatullah of Sunni Ittehad Council, Saddam Hussain of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Abid Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Abdullah from Pakistan People’s Party-Parliamentarians and seven independent contenders Habib Gul, Javed Khan, Said Rehman, Akhtar Gul, Noor Shah, Najibullah, Gul Munir.

An official said Provincial Election Commissioner Shamshad Khan was given a briefing on Wednesday on the arrangements for the poll in PK-22. Strict security measures will be taken for the by-poll in the constituency.

Over 1,79,000 voters will exercise the right to vote in the coming polls, of which over 99,000 are males and 79,972 are females.The District Monitoring Officer recently summoned Chairman Sub-Division Nawagai, Khalilur Rehman, for violating the poll code of conduct and issued him a warning.

The February 8 general elections were postponed in this constituency after the death of a candidate Rehan Zeb Khan in an attack during his election campaign.In the by-elections on April 21, Rehan Zeb’s brother, Mubarak Zeb, was fielded by the elders and youth from NA-8 and PK-22 who won both the slots with a huge support from locals.

In the April by-election, Mubarak defeated some of the stalwarts of Bajaur, including former lawmakers, fielded by different mainstream parties.He received 74,008 votes from NA-8 while runner-up received 47,282 votes. He also won from PK-22 Bajaur-IV and received 23,386 votes while runner up got 10477 votes.Mubarak preferred to remain in NA and vacated the PK-22 seat where the second by-poll is fixed for next month.