More than 50 candidates from different political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, PML-N, PPPP, PTI, JUI-F will try their luck on May 11 elections. A total 490,042 voters were registered in this constituency, including 290,968 male and 199,074 female. Similarly, around 40 nominees will also try their luck for the four provincial assembly seats.
Owing to male-dominated of district Dir Lower, the women voters' turnout was always remained low in this constituency, because of cultural norms and domestic restrictions. But the scenario would be totally changed this time, as all the political and religious parties have placated not to bar this half of the passive population from right to vote in May 11 general elections.
In the past elections, the constituency witnessed a tough contest between two Arch-rival political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and PPPP in the district Dir lower. The constituency NA-34 is considered a stronghold of Jamaat-e-Islami and high vote bank, because of staunch religious minded people and tendency to political-religio parties as compared to liberal. Despite the fact that, the staunch rival PPPP had defeated Jamaat-e-Islami by taking full benefits its incomprehensible boycott.
Political experts predicated that it could be daunting task for old guards to retain their strong position, due to active presence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in this constituency. In past, former JI Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad and JI backed candidates had won galore elections from this constituency. In 2008 polls, JI fading out boycott provided 'a piece of cake' to the customary confronter Malik Azmat Khan of PPPP who won the seat by bagging 38,068 votes, while ANP candidate Muhammad Ayub with a huge margin of 13,585 ballots remained runner up.
A tough competition will be expected between PPP's Malik Azmat and Sahibzada Yaqoob of Jamaat-e-Islami. According to political observers, it could be difficult for JUI-F's Qazi Fazal Ullah and ANP's Muhammad Azam Khan to give tough time to their rivals and to win this seat.
Mehmood Zeb Khan, former PPP provincial minister and former JI MPA Muzaffar Said and ANP's Mohammad Ayub will fight face to face on PK-94. Political observers said that PPP candidate Mehmood Zeb will give tough time to his opponent Muzaffar Said in the elections, who won the seat under the banner of MMA in 2002 polls.
In PK-95, the situation is completely different from other three constituencies, but PPP lack any potentiality to win this seat. However, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Sardar Alam Bacha had bagged this seat several times. Tough contest is expected between two diverse ideologies-JI and ANP on the provincial assembly seat PK-95. The JI Central vice Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq and ANP former provincial minister, Hidayat Ullah, Malik Rehmat Khan of PPP will see each other neck and neck.
In PK-96, former MPA Saeed Gul will face Muhammad Zamin Khan of PPP. The former had won the election from MMA platform while the later had fully exploited the JI boycott by securing his seat in 2008 general elections. Intra-party rows are also widening in this constituency as Zahir Shah of PPP has decided to join the electoral battlefield as an independent candidate which could also hamper vote bank of Zamin.