After a crushing defeat of religious political parties in the 2008 elections, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have started campaigning in the northern division of Malakand to win supporters ahead of the next general elections.
The Malakand division has seven districts and 23 seats out of a total of 124 seats in the provincial assembly. Presently, neither the JUI-F nor the JI have any seats from the area, which is of crucial importance for any party seeking to come to power in the province.
The JUI-F has strengthened its position in the southern parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after two MPAs, Munawar Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) from district Lakki Marwat, and Attiqur Rehman of the Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) from Hangu, joined the party.
JI Chief Syed Munawar Hassan visited Dir twice in September. On September 9, Hassan toured Upper Dir and later on September 23, he addressed a gathering in Lower Dir.
The JI has arranged five public meetings in Malakand divison attended by Hassan, said JI spokesperson Advocate Israrullah, while similar meetings have also been scheduled for Swat.
Following Hassan’s visits, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also addressed a rally at Batkhela on September 24.
The JUI-F spokesperson, Haji Jalil Jan, said that Fazl will visit Shangla district on October 5 and Upper Dir on October 21. The party chief had also visited Swat and Dir earlier this year.
The Malakand division presents a challenge for both the JUI-F and JI. Governance in the district suffered under the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and the party grew unpopular as militancy increased and the party failed to take any action. As life was becoming increasingly insecure for residents, religious parties were voted out and the Awami National Party (ANP), which was vocal against militancy, was elected into power in 2008.
In the absence of any electoral alliance, both the JUI-F and JI will compete against each other. JI boycotted the 2008 elections, while the JUI-F was unsuccessful in winning any seats from Malakand. In 2002, JUI-F candidates won both seats from Chitral district, which is traditionally a PPP stronghold.
The PML-N has also increased its influence in the region by inducting former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) politician Amir Muqam into its ranks. Muqam is influential in Shangla, Swat and other districts. The PPP also has a considerable vote bank in Dir, Malakand and Chitral.increasing competition for all stakeholders.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2012.