General Election 2008.
CHITRAL: Election Commission of Pakistan after proper counseling with different political parities changed date for general election 2008 and rescheduled it on February 18 from Jan, 8. like other parts of the country Chitral also affected by the sudden death of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian Chair person Benazir Bhutto. People of Chitral observed 3 days mourning over the murder of Benazir Bhutto in which life was restrained all markets and offices remained closed. Hence after announcing news date for election schedule 2008 political parties started their election campaign once again. There is one seat from Chitral in National Assembly (NA-32) while 2 seats for Provincial assembly PF-89 (Chitral-I) and PF-90 (Chitral-II). Number of registered voters in election 2008 is 197022 in which male register voters are 107804 and female registered voters are 89218. While in the previous election of 2002 there were total 170954 registered voters in which PF-89 had 97811 registered voters and PF-90 had 73143 registered voters.
There are 5 candidates for NA-32 (National Assembly) from Chitral participating in election 2008. Shahzada Ghulam Muhayuddin a candidate on the ticket of Pakistan peoples party parliamentarian ( PPPP), Shazada Muhayuddin of Pakistan Muslim League Q group (PML Q), Maulana Muhammad Jihangir former MMA from Chitral (on MMA ticket) presently contesting election on the ticket of Jamiat Ulumai Islam Fazli Rahman Group (JUI F), Nadir Khaja independent candidate and Assistant Commission retired Sardar Ahmad Khan and independent candidate.
Some 7 candidates contesting election 2008 for Provincial assembly from PF-89 (Chitral-I). they are Abdul Wali Khan Abid Advocate on the ticket of Pakistan Peoples Party Sherpao group (PPP S), who also resigned from the seat of Nazim Union council Koh, 2. Maulana Abdul Rehman former MPA of MMA and presently contesting on the ticket of JUI-F, 3. Saleem Khan Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentarian group (PPPP), 4. Maulana Abdul Lateef an independent status, 5. Sardar Ahmad Khan independent candidate, 6. Fazli Rahim Advocate Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz group (PML N) and 7. Shakoor Muhammad of PML Q who is also former UC Nazim.
There are 4 candidates for provincial seat of PF-90 (Chitral-II) in general election of 2008. Prominent of them are 1. Maulana Muhammad Jihangir Khan former MPA on MMA Ticket and presently contesting on JUI(F) ticket, 2. Shahzada Nisar Jilani of PPPP, 3. Mulla Rahim Baig independent candidate and 4. Ghulam Muhammad of PML Q group.
According an over viewing on election 2002 there were 4 candidates for only one national seat of NA-32. They were 1. Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitral who contested election on the ticket of Muttahidda Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMA). Some 36130 votes were polled in his favor and declared a successful candidate for National Assembly seat. Secondly there was Shahzada Iftikharddin a candidate of PML Q who gained 23907 votes, third candidate was Sardar Ali S.Aman of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian group some 20862 caste in his favor while 4. Abul Latif of Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf got only 516 votes.
In this election valid votes were 81415, rejected votes were 2572, total votes were 83987 total registered voters were 170954 and (ratio/turn out) % of votes polled to registered voters was 49.13
In the previous election of 2002 there were 6 candidates for provincial assembly seat of PF-89 (Chitral-I). They were 1. Maulana Abdul Rehman of MMA some 21325 votes polled in his favor and declared successful candidate for Provincial assembly. 2. Sherin Khan of PML Q with 11863 votes, 3 Mirdullah Jan of PPPP with 6291 votes, 4. Fazli Rahim Advocate of PML N with 3382 votes, 5. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Advocate of PPP Sherpao group with 1342 votes and 6 Hussain Ahmad of PPP Shaheed Bhutto group who gain only 170 votes.
Valid votes in the election of 2002 were 44373, rejected votes were 1313, total votes 45686 while registered voters were 97811 in this constituency and % of votes polled to registered voters was 46.71.
The situation was the same in provincial seat of PF-90. There were 6 candidates for Provincial seat of PF-90 out of them were Maulana Jehangir Khan of MMA who succeeded to get 11229 votes and elected as successful candidate for provincial assembly while secondly there was Shahzada Nisar Ahmad Jilani of PPPP with 10924 votes, 3. Saeed Ahmad Khan of PML Q with 7039 votes, 4. Syed Burkhan Shah of PPP Shaheed Bhutto group with 3415 votes, 5. Mumtaz Zareen of PML N with 2279 votes who was later on martyred at the top on Lawari pass while he was crossing snow bound lawari by feet and 6. Zahir Uddin of PPPB Sherpao group with 1885 votes.
Valid votes were 36771, rejected votes were 1322, total votes 38093 registered voters were 73143 % of votes polled to registered voters were 52.08.
In the general election of 2002 voter’s caste their votes in favor of MMA to imposing of Islamic Shariah but they badly failed. Electoral symbol was Book of MMA in that election and now once again JUI F candidate has chosen Book as their election symbol while JI and APDM have boycotted to participate in general election of 2008. Pakistan Peoples Party could not unity over the dispute of Candidate and the party workers divided in sub groups. As Central body have given party ticket to Shahzada Ghulam Muhayuddin who is not so popular among the people of Chitral according to workers of PPPP. While JI have boycott of election. The situation is leveling for PML Q candidate Shahzada Muhayuddin for national assembly seat. Hence Maulana Jehangir has strong position for provincial seat of PF-90 on his previous services as well as Abdul Wali Khan Advocate is the most popular leader and suitable candidate for PF-89 provincial seat.
Majority of the people have once complaints that they had caste their votes to success MMA candidates for imposing of Islamic Sharia but they could not do so. Especially inhabitants of Drosh Tehsil are very angry with Maulana Abdul Akbar according to their statement former MNA Abdul Akbar promised thrice for establishment of a stadium, provision of School Bus to Govt. Girls High School Drosh and Fire brigade to Drosh town but he failed badly to do so. Hence they also not satisfied from progress of Shahzada Muhayuddin former MNA and alleged him that he did nothing for uplift of Drosh area. Any how the situations turned overnight after the killing of Benazir Bhutto and majority of voters having sympathy with PPPP candidates and want to success them for restoring of real democracy in the country. It will be decided on February 18 that who will be successful candidate in general election of 2008. it is worth to mention here that Chitral remain in grip of sever cool weather from December to March and during election 2008 Chitral is expectedly to be once again covered by heavy snowfall and most of its roads, and valleys would be block due to land sliding and continue rain as well as people besieged in their houses due to sever cold weather.
G.H. Farooqi PO Box No. 50 GPO Chitral Pakistan telephone No. 0943-302295, 0943-414418, 03025989602, 03469002167