The political change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of clean sweep by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) in May 11 general elections is not a newdevelopment as the province is witnessing such drastic change in governments in every elections from the last 20, reflecting maturity of voters in the province.
A cursory look at the political history of the province revealed that since 1993, voters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have given mandate to different political parties, rejecting the previousg overnments because of their unsatisfactory performance.
In 1993, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government was formed in KP. However after three years tenure, the voters in KP rejected PPP and gave chance to PML (N) which formed the government under the leadership of Mehtab Abbasi.
However, after the military coup of Pervez Musharraf and at a time when United States had attacked Afghanistan, the people of KP fully reposed confidence in the leadership of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).
In the MMA government, ordinary people even those who led five time prayers in mosques of remote areas of the province were given chance by KP voters with the objective of witnessing change.
However, the five years tenure of MMA disappointed KP voters in performing up to their expectation and in 2008 elections those who voted for religious orthodox optedfor representatives of secular PPP and nationalist ANP, reflecting a drastic change of voters inselection of leadership.
In 2013 elections, the KP voters uphold their tradition of bringing change in political scenario of the province and fixed hopes in PTI leadership.
They rejected ANP led government in the province despite of the fact the party rendered matchless sacrifices in ongoing war against militancy and extremism.
The political observers were of the opinion that continuous change in thinking ofthe denizens of KP in selection of political leadership, reflects their political maturity.
“This moodof change of KP voters should also be taken into consideration by leadership of PTI who if not delivered up to the expectation of voters, will also meet thesame fate as was met by political statures like Asfandyar Wali Khan, Bilour family, Amir Haider Hoti, Amir Muqam, Mehtab Abbasi, Pir Sabir Shah, Aftab Sherpao etc,” observed a journalist on social media.
“Pakhtuns show the door to anyone who does not perform. Isn’t a good sign of being maturevoters?” remarked Javed Aziz Khan, a Peshawar based reporter.
Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf (PTI), the newly emerged political force of Pakistan, has outclassed Pakthoon Nationalist Awami National Party (ANP) and mainstream Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Khyber Pakthunkhwa during general elections 2013.
Tahrik-e-Insaf had made a clean sweep in general elections in Peshawar, Malakand and Kohat divisions. The PTI has clinched all the four national assembly constituencies of Peshawar, two each in Swat and Nowshera and two in Mardan. PTI’s candidates became victorious in Karak, Hangu, Kohat and Abbottabad constituencies.
ANP stalwart Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, PPP leader Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan, billionaire MNA and PPP leader Noor Alam Khan, former KP Minister Arbab Ayub Jan, Amir Muqam and former Federal Minister Lal Muhammad Khan were defeated by PTI candidates.
Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf Chairman, Imran Khan had defeated senior politician and ANP leader, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour on NA-1 while PTI’s Engr Hamidul Haq outclassed PPP senior leader and former Federal Minister for Communication, Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan and ANP Peshawar District President, Arbab Najeebullah Khan on NA-2 Peshawar.
Similarly, Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf Sajid Nawaz Khan clinched victory on NA-3 Peshawar defeating PPP stalwart and former MNA, Noor Alam Khan, ANP Arbab Inamaullah Khan and Central Secretary General PML-N Engr Zafar Iqbal Jehagra.
On NA-4 Peshawar, former KP Minister and ANP stalwart, Arbab Ayub Jan, PPP Misbahuddin Khan and PML-N Nasir Musazai had lost the electoral battle from a former bureaucrat and PTI candidate Gulzar Khan. Except of PK-8 that was one by PML-N candidate Akbar Hayat Khan, all the others ten provincial constituencies came in the hands of PTI.
On NA-5 Nowshera-I, Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf Central Information Secretary, Pervez Khattak defeated ANP candidate and former district Nazim, Daud Khan Khattak, former MNA Engr Tariq Khattak and PML-N Pirzada Nabi Amin.
Pervez Khattak secured 69873 votes against runner up, Daud Khan 21185. On NA-6 Nowshera-II, PTI candidate Siraj Muhammad Khan defeated ANP leader and former MNA Masood Abbas Khattak and Major Retd Liaqat Ali Shah Gilani of PPP by securing 54140 votes while 34376 votes were obtained by PML-N Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah.
Mardan that is considered to be the stronghold of ANP and PPP, was swept away by PTI’s Tsunami as two out of three national assembly seats of NA-10 and NA – 11 was clinched by PTI candidates.
Similarly Ali Khan of PTI defeated PPP Abdul Qadar Khan and ANP Muhammad Farooq Khan on NA-10 Mardan-II while Mujahid Ali PTI clinched victory against former MNA and PPP leader Khanzada Khan, ANP Inayat Khan and JUI-F Maulana Imadadullah Khan.
In the ANP stronghold of Swabi, PTI Provincial President Asad Qasir easily won NA-13 Swabi-II by defeating ANP Muhammad Sarwar Khan and Muhammad Naeem Khan of PPP.
PTI candidates Shehryar Afridi on NA-14 Kohat, Nasir Khan Khattak on NA-15 Karak, Khayal Zaman Orakzai on NA-16 Hangu have grabbed victory from these constituencies respectively.
The major upset was seen on NA-17 Abbottabad-I where PTI candidate Dr Azhar Jadoon had defeated former Chief Minister and four times winner PML-N Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan with a huge margin.
ANP and PPP had suffered major setback in Swat from where PTI candidates swept away general elections on two national assembly seats of NA-29 and NA-30. PTI’s Murad Saeed and Salimur Rehman were elected from NA-29 and NA-30 Swat defeating ANP stalwart and former MNA Muzafarul Mulk alias Kaki Khan and Central Vice President Amir Muqam respectively.
On NA-35 Malakand that was considered to be the stronghold of PPP was clinched by PTI candidate, Junaid Khan defeating former Federal Minister, Lal Muhammad Khan and ANP Rehmat Shah Saail.
Political observers said people had voted to PTI because they wanted change in existing policies for establishing peace in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
