Political war between Saifullah brothers, JUI-F getting tense in Lakki Marwat

Barkatullah Marwat

LAKKI MARWAT: The political war between Saifullah brothers and leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), which has been going on since the then Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) government, is likely to get tense gradually in the district.

The JUI-F has decided to award tickets to former MPA Zafarullah Khan Marwat for PK-74, another former MPA Imran Khan for PK-75 and former judicial officer Sher Afzal Khan for PK-76 while ticket for the lone seat of the National Assembly (NA-29) might go to the sitting MPA Munawwar Khan or probably to his brother Ameer Nawaz Khan.

However, there are rumours that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also flexing his muscles to contest for NA-29 seat. Last time Maulana Fazl had lost to PPP leader and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi in his hometown Dera Ismail Khan and later former chief minister. Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly MPA Akram Khan Durrani later got him succeeded from Bannu.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Humayun Saifullah Khan has been carrying out his election campaign effectively and he daily visits the far-flung areas where people are deprived of the basic facilities such as drinking water, electricity, education and healthcare.

He is not only making hectic efforts for his own win but also for his brothers, PPP provincial president Anwar Saifullah Khan and PML (Likeminded) Senator Salim Saifullah Khan.

Political circles of Saifullah brothers are of the view that Anwar Saifullah Khan would again contest election from PK-74 and Humayun Saifullah from PK-75 while on PK-76 they would support PML-N leader Akhtar Munir Marwat, retired federal secretary and brother of Anwar Kamal Marwat (late) and for the seat of NA-29 Senator Salim Saifullah Khan and Anwar Saifullah Khan are expected to contest the polls.

In Serai Naurang tehsil, another candidate Anwar Hayat Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami, former union council nazim, is also set to contest the election from PK-74 as an independent candidate.

The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) including Zarin Zia, Salim Nawaz and others have not yet given their decision regarding the elections.

The position of Saifullah brothers in PK-74 seems stronger after former councillor Ghafoor Khan Takhtikhel joined their group.

Awami National Party (ANP) candidates have not yet come forward, nor have they launched political and election campaign though MPA Yasmin Zia and her husband Saddruddin advocate, who is also president of ANP district cabinet, but mostly he lives in Peshawar, have not yet made up their minds to contest the polls.

Former inspector general of police Dil Jan Khan has recently joined the JUI-F and his cousin Sher Afzal Khan is already in the run for the polls. Former councillor and PPP leader late Muhammad Azim Khan Begukhel joined the JUI-F and the credit goes to his early joining the party and that’s why JUI-F chief has decided to award ticket for PK-76 to Sher Afzal Khan.

Likewise, JUI-F MPA Naseer Muhammad Khan Maidadkhel has also not expressed his wish whether or not to contest the coming election again.

There is no denying the fact that MPA Akram Khan Durrani did not release fund for the development of Lakki Marwat during his five-year long tenure as chief minister in the past.

He did not extend the two-way road to Lakki Marwat via Serai Naurang tehsil from Bannu despite the fact that former MPA Zafarullah Khan was there.

Also, the ex-chief minister did not set up the Jail Park in Lakki Marwat while he completed a similar scheme in his native town Bannu. He did not develop the drainage system in Lakki Marwat like what he did in Bannu.

He also awarded a vast land to one of his dear ones to establish a park in Malu Gul area.

The list of complaints may run longer but all he did because of having political grudges against Lakki-based Saifullah brothers and hopefully the people would not have forgotten these things.

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