RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: A tough contest is expected between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Awami National Party, Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on 3 national assembly seats of Mardan district.

The total registered voters in Mardan district are 1239,949 including 719,872 male and 520,067 female. However, 252,817 more voter were registered in the last five years in the district, while total 1,031 polling stations have been established of which 514 declared more sensitive and 398 sensitive. 3,150 polling booths including 1,770 for male and 1,380 for female have been set up.

On NA-20 Mardan 1 (old NA-11-Mardan-III), total number of registered voters are 430,538 including 181,551 female voters. The constituency was formerly known as NA-11 (Mardan-III) from 1977 to 2018. The name changed to NA-20 (Mardan-I) after the delimitation in 2018. In the 2002 election, Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman on MMA ticket secured 51,918 votes and won this seat, ANP candidate Habibullah Khan secured 14,462 votes and PTI candidate Dr Mohammad Afzal Khan secured 5,923 votes. In the 2009 election Khanzada Khan of PPP secured 20,896 and won this seat while Maulana Tajul-Ameen Jabal on JUI-F secured 18,155 votes.

In the 2013 election, Mujahid Khan of the PTI secured 38,233 and won this seat, PPP candidate Khanzada Khan secured 26,928 and JUI-F candidate Imadullah Yousafza got 26,623 votes and JI candidate Gul Nawaz Khan who has now joined the ANP has secured 15,536 votes and ANP candidate Inayat Khan secured 11,506.

Total 5 candidates are contesting election on this seat. However, tough contest is expected between PTI candidate Mujahid Khan and PPP candidate Nawabzada Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, MMA candidate Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman and ANP candidate Gul Nawaz Khan who quit the JI and joined ANP while Akhtar Nawaz is contesting election on PML-N ticket on this seat.

The PTI workers claimed that 1, 01253 new voters were registered in this constituency and majority of them will use their votes in favor of PTI candidate. While the PPP, MMA and ANP workers and supporters claimed that the PTI has failed to fulfill its promises in the last five years and due to this reason the voters will use their votes in favor of their party candidates. However, political analysts say that tough contest is expected on this seat between PTI, PPP, MMA and ANP.

On NA-21 Mardan 2 (old NA-9-Mardan-1), the total numbers of voters registered in this constituency are 419,713 including 243,017 male and 176,696 female voters, while total 357 polling stations including 147 for male, 132 for female and 132 78 combined and 1,039 polling booths including 590 for male and 449 for female were established in this constituency.

In the last five years 83,536 more voters were registered in this constituency. In the 2002 election Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) candidate Maulana Shuja-ul-Mulak secured 54,479 votes and succeeded on this seat, an independent candidate Abass Sarfaraz Khan nephew of former chief minister late Mir Afzal Khan secured 15,376 votes, PPP candidate Murad Khan secured 5,077 votes while PTI candidate Yousaf Shah secured 1,049 votes.

In the 2009 election, ANP candidate Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti secured 31000 votes and succeeded on this seat while the JUI-F candidate Maulana Shuja-ul-Mulak secured 24,621 votes and PPP candidate Khanzada Khan secured 24,200 votes.

In the 2013 election, ANP candidate Ameer Haider Hoti secured 44,769 votes and succeeded on this seat, PTI candidate Nasir Khan secured 42,068 votes, PML-N candidate Khwaja Hoti secured 32,090 votes, JUI-F candidate Maulan Shuja-ul-Mulak secured 14,427 votes and PPP candidate Shahzia Aurangzeb secured 7,002 in this constituency.

Total 6 candidates are contesting election on this seat. However tough contest is expected between PTI additional general secretary and former provincial minister Mohammad Atif Khan and ANP provincial president and former chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti while PPP candidate Abid Ali Shah and MMA candidate Maulana Shuja-ul-Mulak, Mohammad Saed candidate of Pakistan Freedom Movement and independent candidate Mukhtyar are also contesting election on this seat.

The PTI workers claimed that 83,536 new voters were registered in this constituency and majority of them will use their votes in favor of PTI candidate. The PTI candidate also claimed that Khwaja Hoti secured 32,090 votes in the 2013 election and it is anti Haider Hoti votes and majority of these voters will also use their votes in favor of PTI candidate.

While the ANP workers and supporters claimed that PTI has failed to fulfill their promises in the last five years and majority of the government employees is also disgruntled with PTI previous government and they will use their votes in favor of ANP candidates in the upcoming election. However, political analysts in the district said that tough contest is expected between former provincial minister Mohammad Atif Khan and former chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti on this seat.

On NA-22 Mardan-3 (old NA-10-Mardan-II), the constituency has 389,688 registered voters including 61,820 female voters, about 321 polling stations including 79 for male, 74 for female and 168 combined has been established in the constituency. However, in the last five years 68,028 more voters were registered in this constituency.

The constituency was formerly known as NA-10 - Mardan-II from 1977 to 2018. The name changed to NA-22 -Mardan-3 after the delimitation in 2018.

In the 2013 election, Ali Mohammad Khan on PTI ticket secured 46,531 votes and won this seat, JUI-F candidate Maulana Qasim secured 39,269 votes, ANP candidate Mohammad Farooq Khan secured 19,436 votes, JI candidate Sultan Mohammad secured 19,436 votes, PPP candidate Nawabzada Abdul Qadar Khan secured 15,345 votes and PML-N candidate Naseem Mohammad Khan secured 11,491.