The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was dealt a major blow in the recently held by-elections in the provincial assembly constituency PK-8, when it failed to win the seat despite support from coalition partners, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP). After having ruled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for almost three years, critics say the by-elections were a test for the PTI.
Following the disappointing results, serious differences emerged among local party leaders, some of whom have criticized Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and his cabinet members for “deviating from the PTI manifesto”.
The constituency in Peshawar fell vacant because of the death of Arbab Akbar Hayat of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in March 2016. In a close contest, his nephew and son-in-law Arbab Muhammad Waseem Khan retained the seat. According unofficial result released by the returning officer, Arbab Waseem bagged 11,782 votes, Malak Tamash Khan of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) got 10,789, Shahzad Khan of PTI got 9,347 votes and Asif Iqbal Daudzai of Jamait Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) bagged 9,308.
Since it came to power with a slogan of change, the PTI has claimed that it has carried out major reforms and revamped the decades-old broken systems. They had said the election on PK-8 would be a test of their success.
In the general elections in 2013, PML-N’s Arbab Hayat won the seat after securing 13,528 votes. Asif Iqbal Daudzai of JUI-F got 10,458 votes, Jehanzeb Khan of PTI secured 9,335 votes, PPP’s Malak Tamash Khan got 8,324 votes, JI’s Fazlullah Dawoodzai bagged 4,768 and QWP’s Muhammad Shafi was at the bottom with 1,888 votes.
Despite support from the JI and the QWP, the number of votes PTI secured was less than it did in the last elections.
“People still love Imran Khan and PTI, but they were disappointed with the performance of the provincial government,” said party leader Junaid Akbar, a Member National Assembly from Malakand Agency. According to him, developmental work in the province was carried out only in select areas. “The ministers do not come out of their offices and the workers have no access to them,” he said. “They are either incompetent or uninterested in the affairs of common people.”
Junaid Akbar said the province needed an “energetic” chief minister “who is loyal to the party, does not sleep at daytime, and visits people regularly”.
If Imran Khan has expectations from Pervez Khattak, he said, “he is deceiving himself, his workers and the nation”.
Earlier this month, four MNAs from the province had met Imran Khan at Islamabad Club, according to a source, and complained against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, warning him that the party would lose its foothold in the province. “Either convince us that the party’s manifesto is being followed or relieve us from the party,” they said, according to one of the MNAs, who spoke to me.
One reason behind the dismal performance was that about two dozen workers of the party had sought the ticket to contest the election, and were backed by various party leaders.
According to Peshawar based journalist Lihaz Ali, their nominee Shahzad Khan was not popular amongst the PTI workers in the constituency. The party failed to campaign properly for its candidate. “Apart from a single rally by Imran Khan, there was nothing else on the ground,” he said.
On the other hand, Amir Muqam, the provincial head of the PML-N, and his brother Dr Ibad, who is an MNA, ran a non-stop campaign for Arbab Waseem Khan. “Amir Muqam had to prove his worth as the provincial head of the party and he did it,” Lihaz Ali said. “The PPP and the JUI-F also ran strong campaigns.”
The PK-8 constituency in Peshawar has not always been a PML-N stronghold. In the general elections in 2008, Malak Tamash Khan of PPP won the seat securing 6,869 votes. Akbar Hayat of the PML-N got 6,032 votes and Asif Iqbal Daudzai of JUI-F bagged 5,636. PTI had boycotted the elections.
In 2002, the seat had gone to JUI-F’s Asif Iqbal Daudzai, who was representing the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. He bagged 8,713 votes. Awami National Party’s Dr Tajuddin got 4,198 votes and PPP-Sherpao (now QWP) candidate Noor Alam Khan secured 2,345 votes.
Following the disappointing results, serious differences emerged among local party leaders, some of whom have criticized Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and his cabinet members for “deviating from the PTI manifesto”.
The constituency in Peshawar fell vacant because of the death of Arbab Akbar Hayat of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in March 2016. In a close contest, his nephew and son-in-law Arbab Muhammad Waseem Khan retained the seat. According unofficial result released by the returning officer, Arbab Waseem bagged 11,782 votes, Malak Tamash Khan of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) got 10,789, Shahzad Khan of PTI got 9,347 votes and Asif Iqbal Daudzai of Jamait Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) bagged 9,308.
"People love Imran Khan, but they are disappointed with the KP government"
Since it came to power with a slogan of change, the PTI has claimed that it has carried out major reforms and revamped the decades-old broken systems. They had said the election on PK-8 would be a test of their success.
In the general elections in 2013, PML-N’s Arbab Hayat won the seat after securing 13,528 votes. Asif Iqbal Daudzai of JUI-F got 10,458 votes, Jehanzeb Khan of PTI secured 9,335 votes, PPP’s Malak Tamash Khan got 8,324 votes, JI’s Fazlullah Dawoodzai bagged 4,768 and QWP’s Muhammad Shafi was at the bottom with 1,888 votes.
Despite support from the JI and the QWP, the number of votes PTI secured was less than it did in the last elections.
“People still love Imran Khan and PTI, but they were disappointed with the performance of the provincial government,” said party leader Junaid Akbar, a Member National Assembly from Malakand Agency. According to him, developmental work in the province was carried out only in select areas. “The ministers do not come out of their offices and the workers have no access to them,” he said. “They are either incompetent or uninterested in the affairs of common people.”
Junaid Akbar said the province needed an “energetic” chief minister “who is loyal to the party, does not sleep at daytime, and visits people regularly”.
If Imran Khan has expectations from Pervez Khattak, he said, “he is deceiving himself, his workers and the nation”.
Earlier this month, four MNAs from the province had met Imran Khan at Islamabad Club, according to a source, and complained against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, warning him that the party would lose its foothold in the province. “Either convince us that the party’s manifesto is being followed or relieve us from the party,” they said, according to one of the MNAs, who spoke to me.
One reason behind the dismal performance was that about two dozen workers of the party had sought the ticket to contest the election, and were backed by various party leaders.
According to Peshawar based journalist Lihaz Ali, their nominee Shahzad Khan was not popular amongst the PTI workers in the constituency. The party failed to campaign properly for its candidate. “Apart from a single rally by Imran Khan, there was nothing else on the ground,” he said.
On the other hand, Amir Muqam, the provincial head of the PML-N, and his brother Dr Ibad, who is an MNA, ran a non-stop campaign for Arbab Waseem Khan. “Amir Muqam had to prove his worth as the provincial head of the party and he did it,” Lihaz Ali said. “The PPP and the JUI-F also ran strong campaigns.”
The PK-8 constituency in Peshawar has not always been a PML-N stronghold. In the general elections in 2008, Malak Tamash Khan of PPP won the seat securing 6,869 votes. Akbar Hayat of the PML-N got 6,032 votes and Asif Iqbal Daudzai of JUI-F bagged 5,636. PTI had boycotted the elections.
In 2002, the seat had gone to JUI-F’s Asif Iqbal Daudzai, who was representing the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. He bagged 8,713 votes. Awami National Party’s Dr Tajuddin got 4,198 votes and PPP-Sherpao (now QWP) candidate Noor Alam Khan secured 2,345 votes.