The incumbent Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) coalition government in KPK may not retain their previous positions in the upcoming general elections due to poor performance, rampant corruption and their stand against militancy.
Senior analyst Rahimullah Yusufzai told Business Recorder that the ANP-led government succeeded in renaming the province, preventing construction of Kalabagh Dam and attaining provincial autonomy. Moreover the government did a lot in education sector including establishment of 8 universities, irrigation sector, works and development.
Yusufzai further said that KPK government failed to resolve the electricity issue, while unemployment further increased in the province. Furthermore, the ANP chief Asfandiyar Wali Khan detached himself from the public for a long time after a suicide attack on him at his hometown which fuelled public criticism.
Yusufzai said that PPP situation would not be different from ANP as the former has lost its vote bank to a great extent in the province due to failure in delivering and resolving public problems. PPP is the major ally of the ANP government that failed to deliver to the expectations of the public. Though the new President of KPK Anwar Saifullah Khan is active and succeeded in reuniting some politicians, however it would be difficult for the party to retain its previous position in the province during the upcoming general election, Yusufzai maintained.
The ANP took a bold stand against militancy in the province, which accounts for attacks against their leadership at political rallies as well as their place of residence. "ANP will definitely face resistance from militants and their elections rallies may also be targeted by the militants", sources added.
The ANP narrowly retained its seat in the bye elections in Mardan in spite of government resources in hand. ANP leadership, cognisant of its waning popularity, is desperate to form a coalition with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI). Together they maybe able to remain in power in the province, senior member of the ANP told this correspondent on condition of anonymity.
KPK Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Business Recorder that ANP would retain its previous position in the upcoming general election on the basis of its sacrifices, rendered for restoring peace in the province. "Even yesterday I received life threat from militants; however we are not ready to backtrack from our stance to curb militants unless they give up arms and become part of the mainstream", Iftikhar added.
It was KP government that succeeded in dislodging militants' parallel government in Malakand division after offering many sacrifices of Army, police, FC, party workers and leadership. After too many sacrifices, ANP led government succeeded in controlling terrorism in the province hence got the people's sympathies, he claimed, adding that the party would include restoration of peace in its election manifesto.
Replying to a question provincial minister said that electricity shortage was a central government issue and KPK government alone should not be blamed. The provincial government, he added, has undertaken 24 hydropower projects which would generate 2400MW electricity in the next 10 to 15 years. Responding to a question about rampant corruption in the province, he said that it is not something new and unless co-ordinated efforts are taken to root out the menace, it will continue to grow. "The ANP must not be singled out for corruption as the previous governments were also not exempted from it", he added.