ISLAMABAD: Dera Ismail Khan has long been a stronghold of the JUI-F but with the emergence of the PTI in the region, we may see a good fight here.
In DI Khan independents are seen favourably. Voters here and in southern KP in general don’t vote for a party and prefer to make their choice based on persona. So strong candidates don’t actually need a party.
Seats:
NA-38
NA-39
PK-95
PK-96
PK-97
PK-98
PK-99
From NA-38, Maulana Fazal ur Rahman is the MMA strong man up against Ali Amin Gandapur from the PTI and former senator Waqar Khan (independent).
From NA-39, Maulana Fazal ur Rahman is up against PTI’s Yaqoob Sheikh.
From PK-95, Ehtesham Javed is an independent who was a former PTI leader who could not get a party ticket. He is seen as the strongest candidate followed by Makhdoom Murid Kazim, an independent who was also denied a PTI ticket.
In PK-96, Ahmed Kundi is on the PPP ticket against Sami Ullah Zai who is an independent.
From PK-97, Qayyum Nawaz is a PPP candidate against Ali Ameen Khan of the PTI.
From PK-98, Maulana Fazlur Rahman’s brother Lutf ur Rehman is on the MMA platform against a strong candidate Fakher Ullah Khan who is an independent.
The PK-99 election has been postponed due to the death of Ikramullah Gandapur in a suicide blast on July 22. APP