As the general elections approach, various strategies are being considered by political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure success, or at least the best outcome possible in the upcoming contest. In Buner, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) might extend support to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on all three provincial assembly seats in the district and in exchange, JI is likely to surrender the lone National Assembly seat to JUI-F.
Sources within the two parties told this scribe that several rounds of talks had already taken place between the leaderships of JI and JUI-F to finalise a list of candidates contesting in the elections scheduled in July. Both parties hope to prevent the entry of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the district, which might be difficult to do since the PTI is gaining support with every passing day.
Meanwhile, the PTI and the Awami National Party have decided to take solo flights to prove their strength in the district. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz seems unable to secure a good position in the district, despite a recent visit by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz to Buner. Pakistan Peoples Party is in a similar position, having almost no support on the ground.
Former JI MNA Sher Akbar Khan recently joined the PTI in the hopes of a ticket to the parliament
Talking to The Friday Times, Saeedur Rahman Mufakir, general secretary of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal chapter in Buner, said negotiations with JI were underway and various options were being discussed in consultation with the provincial leadership.
One of the options on the table for JI is a free hand to the JUI-F for the National Assembly seat. In the 2013 general election, JI had secured the National Assembly seat with 28,264 votes and one provincial assembly seat (PK-21) in Buner.
Now, it seems that JI prefers to field its former provincial assembly member Maulana Fazl Ghafoor for the National Assembly seat NA-09 instead of the provincial assembly seat PK-20. Provincial constituencies, which include PK-20, PK-21 and PK-22, could be given to JI where the party has a good reputation. In exchange for this, the JI would support the JUI-F candidate in Karak, Lakki Marwat and Bannu where JUI-F has decent vote bank which would only be reinforced with JI's backing.
In 2013, the runner up candidate for the National Assembly seat was PTI's Mian Moinuddin, who secured 23,234 votes. JUI-F's Maulana Haleemur Rahman stood third with 21,049 votes while ANP's candidate stood fourth with 20,623 votes followed by Sir Zamin Khan of the PML-N with 11,748 votes and Awami Workers Party's chairman Fanoos Gujjar who got 10,021 votes.
Together, JI and JUI-F could grab all the seats in Buner as both parties have strong presence in the district
Together, JI and JUI-F could grab all the seats in Buner as both parties have strong presence in the district and can take on the solo flight of ANP and the PTI who are not ready to accept each other.
If there is dissatisfaction with PTI's ranks over distribution of tickets, the vote will be divided even further, paving way for an easy MMA victory. There are rumours of differences between former JI MNA Sher Akbar Khan and PTI's Mian Moinuddin. Sher Akbar Khan recently joined the PTI in the hopes of getting a National Assembly ticket. Mian Moinudin has been serving the party from the very beginning. He feels that he deserves the ticket. This tug-of-war within the PTI might work out as a blessing for the MMA.
When asked about the possibility of an alliance between the PTI and ANP, PTI's Inamur Rahman said that there was "no chance." He said his party was confident about its position in the district as a lot of young people had recently joined the party.
He said the party had surveyed most areas in PK-20 where the PTI had a strong presence and most party members were ideological workers of the party who would resist MMA.
Some commentators believe that the only way to defeat MMA in Buner would be the alliance between ANP and the PTI which is unlikely. Only the combined vote of the PTI and ANP could counter the strong JUI-F and JI, who are already preparing for the election.
The PTI may also seek the support of Awami Workers Party, whose chairman secured got 10,021 votes in the 2013 general elections and who also enjoys support of the Gujjar community in the district.
