JUI-F facing tough competition

JUI-F facing tough competition in NA-25

The deteriorating security situation occupies the mind of every Tank resident. After months of calm, some disturbances have begun to reccur, as the situation in nearby South Waziristan has become increasingly unstable. A major clash between the Taliban and security forces can lead to lower turnout on polling day

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a force to be reckoned with in the southern districts of the North West Frontier Province, is facing multiple challenges to its claim over the NA-25 seat. These range from a split in the party, to a “public image” problem in Tank district, which is still under threat from the Taliban despite deployment of troops to protect it from the Baitullah Mehsud-led group operating in nearby South Waziristan.

Some Dera Ismail Khan district areas — some parts of Paharpur, Panyala, Kulachi and Durabin tehsils — were included in the NA-25 constituency, thus terming it the DI Khan/Tank seat.

Tank was the oldest tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan district and it was given district status on July 1, 1992, with a view to develop it. Two major tribes – Bhittani and Mehsud – live in Tank district, along with the Kundi, Gandapur and Jaat tribes.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s brother, Maulana Attaur Rehman, won NA-25 during by-elections when Fazlur Rehman won both the NA-24 (Dera Ismail Khan) and NA-25 (DI Khan/Tank) seats, but chose to retain only the Dera seat.

“I know there are problems, but party discipline is more important,” Fida Muhammad, 37, who is campaign manager for Attaur Rehman in Tank city, told Daily Times, conceding that the party had split into several factions.

The JUI-F has been facing problems keeping the party united because of ticket allocation throughout NWFP, but the situation in Tank district appears to be more serious. The split could help rival candidates capitalise on the situation, analysts have said.

The situation deteriorated further when Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced at a public meeting that the JUI-F nominee for NA-42 (South Waziristan–II) would be Maulana Mirajuddin, leaving Maulana Hisamuddin, who is also one of the candidates for NA-42, out in the cold. Hisamuddin is a senior JUI-F leader, as well as being deputy head of the party at the provincial level.

Local poll observers told Daily Times that Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s decision to make Mirajuddin the party candidate in South Waziristan would “sink the party deeper into crisis” in Tank district where JUI-F is facing “a kind of revolt” from supporters. These people say the maulanas “did not look back when Tank was burning” in May 2007 in the face of Taliban onslaught.

Last year, local Taliban attacked Tank from all sides to avenge the killing of their commander in a police shoot-out in May 2007, forcing the authorities to impose curfew to return calm to the city. The attack left unforgettable memories among the residents. “It was like hell when the city was under attack from all sides,” 18-year-old Manzoor Gandapur recalled the night when the Taliban wreaked havoc, looting banks and destroying government buildings.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman conceded that the party “lost contact” with the voters after the 2002 polls. “Yes, I acknowledge that we did not keep contacts with the people, but I am talking to them and the situation is improving,” he told Daily Times after addressing a December 25 public meeting in Tank city under tight police security.

Eleven candidates are currently in the running, with Dawar Khan Kundi of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, Hizbullah Gandapur of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Umar Farooq Miankhel (independent) representing a strong challenge to Attaur Rehman.

Dawar was main rival of Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the 2002 elections, bagging 31,976 votes against Fazl’s 59,102. Attaur Rehman’s margin of victory during by-elections was lower.

The election also faces an added wrinkle with Habibullah Kundi being allowed to contest the polls after a Peshawar court ruling on January 15 reversed the earlier disqualification that had resulted from problems with his degree. In the final candidate list for the February 18 polls, Kundi’s name is still missing as he was disqualified at the time.

Analysts have said that the JUI-F chief’s victory in the 2002 polls is “indebted” to Kundi, popularly known as “Baboo Khan,” because he supported Fazl and holds considerable sway in the district. However, with the changing situation, a new political realignment has occurred.

“Baboo Khan” has previously won the provincial assembly seat from Tank three consecutive times — in 1990, 1993 and 1997 — in various capacities. Unofficial reports suggest that he “plays into the hands of establishmentnt’ and weeks before the court decided to allow him to contest the polls, it was rumoured that he would be running. He is making his debut for a NA seat on a PML-Quaid ticket, and he may pay for choosing a party symbol that many independent candidates are calling the “symbol of election suicide”.

However, political analysts describe his personality as a “shrewd politician who knows the art of electioneering much better than others”.

The youth of the constituency appear to favour Dawar, who is campaigning with donations from friends and well-wishers, as his father Amanullah Khan Kundi, does not support him. “Let’s pray Dawar wins as he is young and I am also young and a young man wants some colours (sic) in his life,” Manzoor Gandapur said. “I am for Dawar because there should be someone who can pull Tank city out of Taliban influence.” Dawar appears confident that he would overrun the JUI-F candidate this time. “I see a trend among the people who want to hand the mullah a crushing defeat,” the young Dawar told Daily Times in his main campaign office.

Before Tank was given separate district status, it was part of Dera Ismail Khan, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman had won this seat in 1988 and 1993, while losing it in 1990 and 1997.

The district has always had a solid vote-bank for the JUI-F, but it needs support from regional “strong political players” to ensure its victory. The Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao has agreed on a seat adjustment with the JUI-F in Dera Ismail Khan, but whether the Gandapurs of Kulachi tehsil would lend vital support to Attaur Rehman in Tank district is still uncertain. If the anti-JUI-F parties do not unite, it is highly likely that the JUI-F would win. Reports say Israrullah Gandapur, PPP-S candidate for PF-66 (Dera Ismail Khan), has made an arrangement with Hizbullah Gandapur. However, Dawar and Hizbullah would probably divide anti-JUI-F votes amongst themselves, which would only help Atta.

Bhittanis make up a large part of the Tank population and generally vote for the mullah, while the Mehsuds who reside in large numbers in the district have registered themselves in South Waziristan. The deteriorating security situation occupies the mind of every Tank resident. After months of calm, some disturbances have begun to reoccur, as the situation in nearby South Waziristan has become increasingly unstable. A major clash between the Taliban and security forces can lead to lower turnout on polling day.

PF-69:
Tank district spreads across just 1,678 square kilometres and has only one provincial assembly seat. One candidate each from the PML-Q, the PPPP, the Awami National Party and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, along with five independent candidates are vying for the seat. The winner in 2002 was independent candidate Tahir bin Yamin (15,842 votes). Traditionally, this provincial assembly seat has never been won by the JUI-F and strong candidates have always emerged from the independent side or strong clans like Kundi or Gandapur. It signifies a unique vote trend that prevails in this district: for NA a mullah is traditionally elected, while for provincial politics a different man is elected. Habibullah Kundi is one candidate who has won the seat three times consecutively. However, he is trying his luck on the National Assembly seat this time leaving Irfanullah Kundi of the PML-Q and Mustafa Kundi of the PPPP strong claimants for the seat. Irfanullah Kundi is hoping his uncle - Habibullah Kundi – will use his influence to help him win the seat. All hopes of the MMA triumphing were almost completely erased when Haji Gulistan, party candidiate for PF-69, was disqualified on the ground of sanad issue. However, less than two weeks before polling day, the Supreme Court allowed him to contest the elections.Iqbal Khattak