By-Polls in PK-69 (Tank): A Strong Contest on the Horizon

The upcoming by-elections in PK-69 (Tank) have gained momentum, with 31 candidates, including a female, vying for the seat. The contest is expected to be fierce between Dawar Khan Kundi of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Habibullah Kundi, an independent candidate. The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of JUI-F MPA Gulistan Bhittani by the Supreme Court in a fake degree case.

Key Takeaways:

• The PPP candidate, Dawar Khan Kundi, is facing pressure from his main opponent Habibullah Kundi alias Babu Khan and Abdul Qadir Khan Bhittani of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
• Habibullah Kundi, a former provincial minister, was initially given the party ticket by the Awami National Party (ANP) but is now contesting as an independent candidate due to a seat adjustment made by the ruling parties.
• The PPP claims that they fully supported the ANP nominee in Shangla and expect the ANP to reciprocate in Tank, but Habibullah Kundi is determined to contest as an independent.
• The election is expected to be a contest between the Kundi and Bhittani tribes, with the JUI-F candidate belonging to the Bhittani tribe.
• The other candidates in the election race include Sheikh Ehsanullah and Mrs Rahat Afshan, both independents, and Sajjad Ahmad Marwat of the Jamaat-e-Islami.
• Canvassing and corner meetings are in full swing in the Tank district, where there are 74,800 male and 50,214 female voters.

Statistics:

• 31 candidates, including a female, are contesting the by-elections in PK-69 (Tank) (1).
• Dawar Khan Kundi's father, Amanullah Kundi, was a former provincial minister (2).
• Habibullah Kundi and Dawar Kundi both claim to have the support of the Kundi tribes (3).
• 74,800 male and 50,214 female voters are registered in the Tank district (4).

Sources:

• (1) Independent news source, no date.
• (2) Same independent news source, no date.
• (3) Same independent news source, no date.
• (4) Same independent news source, no date.