Elections in FATA: A Special Report (updated June 6, 2013)

Elections in FATA Special Report, June 2013

2013 Elections in FATA, Special Report 1 | P a g e

2013 Elections in FATA

Saturday May 11, 2013 was a momentous day in the history of FATA. For the first time people

came out in large numbers to cast their votes for their respective political parties and

independent candidates. People enthusiastically took part in the elections of 2013 and voted

for 12 members for the National Assembly of Pakistan. Under the constitution, FATA is allowed

only 12 seats in the National Assembly and none in the Provincial Assembly. There are also no

reserved seats for women and given strict tribal customs, this basically ensures that no can

obtain a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan.

The extension to FATA of the Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002 galvanized political activities in

the militancy-hit area, which comprises seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions.

2013 Election Results in FATA

Constituency Winning Candidate Party Votes Registered

Voters Votes

Polled Voter

Turnout*

NA – 36 Bilal Rehman Ind** 9,005 179,304 53,648 30%

NA – 37 Syed Sajid Hussain Ind 30,524 162,660 94,489 58%

NA – 38 Not yet announced

NA – 39 Dr. Syed Ghazi Gulab Jamal Ind 7,922 125,687 47,824 38%

NA – 40 Muhammad Nazir Khan Ind 18,055 160,666 77,955 49%

NA – 41*** Ghalib Khan PML-N 8,022 92,000 N/A N/A

NA – 42 Moulana Muhammad Jamal ud Din JUI-F 3,468 108,056 12,502 12%

NA – 43 Bismallah Khan Ind 13,929 168,514 44,050 26%

NA – 44 Shahab ud Din Pusht PML-N 15,114 185,040 60,008 32%

NA – 45 Alhaj Shah Jee Gul Afridi Ind 29,697 175,036 69,874 40%

NA – 46 Not yet announced

NA – 47 Qaisar Jamal PTI 9,856 121,265 48,215 40%

FATA Total Voter Participation: 37%

* Percent of registered voters participating on election day ** Independent candidate *** Result announced after compilation of report

In NA-36 Mohmand Agency, Mr. Bilal Rehman—independent candidate and a former Member

of the National Assembly (MNA)—won amidst allegations of rigging by his rival candidates. Mr.

Nisar Mohmand (President of Awami National Party in Mohmand Agency, but contesting as an

independent candidate in NA-36) said to the media that elections in his constituency were

rigged and the results were unacceptable.

NA-37 Kurram Agency was won by Mr. Sajid Hussain Tori, an independent candidate and a

former Member of Parliament. The security situation was not favorable in Kurram Agency.

Regardless, the people came out to cast their vote. Owing to security concerns, Parachinar City

was completely sealed off with an additional deployment of militia forces backed by security


personnel to protect the lives and property of the people. The religious committee of Ahli Tashi

favored Sajid Hussain Tori while Qaisar Hussain, a retired Air force officer, encouraged women

to stage a sit in for one month to protest the result. After several days, the women dispersed

and the situation returned to normal.

Similarly, elders of NA-38 Kurram Agency, requested that the Election Commission of Pakistan

(ECP) postpone elections for two months due to the rapidly deteriorating and volatile law and

order situation. Two days before the elections, militants attacked Pakistani troops, killing three

soldiers. In response, security forces launched a fresh operation against them. In the same area,

a suicide bomber blew himself up during an election rally held by Munir Orakzai (candidate of

Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam F, JUI-F) killing 23 people and seriously injuring 80. Citizens of NA-38 Para

Chamkani came to Peshawar and other safer areas of the country as IDPs where there were no

polling stations for them.

In NA-39 Orakzai Agency, former Federal Minister Dr. Gulab Jamal was declared the winning

candidate. It is worth noting that there were 36 candidates contesting the seat in Orakzai

Agency. His rival candidate—a former parliamentarian—Mr. Jawad Hussain rejected the results

and demanded re-polling in the constituency. Hussain was a candidate of the Pakistan People’s

Party (PPP).

In NA-40 North Waziristan, independent candidate Mr. Muhammad Nazir won the election.

Nazir allegedly inked an agreement with Mr. Qismat Khan to allot him a seat in the Senate

should he win the National Assembly election. All other candidates from North Waziristan have

now gone before the Peshawar High Court to register their grievances against Mr. Nazir.

In NA-41 South Waziristan, the security situation remained tense throughout the election

period. In a Taliban shura (council) headed by Commander Salahuddin Ayubi (successor of

Maulvi Mohammad Nazir, who was killed in a US drone strike), it was declared that if anyone

tried to disrupt the polling process at any polling station in NA-41, that the culprit would be

fined one million rupees cash and that their house would be set on fire. However, one day

before the elections, unknown assailants fired five rockets on an election rally held by Mr.

Naseer Ahmed and five people were killed in the attack.

The contest between Mr. Ali Wazir and Mr. Ghalib Wazir was also bitter. The media first

declared Mr. Ali Wazir, Agency Reforms Council coordinator for the Shaheed Bhutto Foundation

(SBF) in South Waziristan as the winning candidate. Later, , the result was withheld for

unknown reasons. Elections at the remaining polling stations were held and Ali Wazir was again

in the lead. Later, however, Mr. Ghalib Wazir of PML-N was declared the winner. Ali Wazir,

along with his supporters, has rejected the results and have taken their case to the election

tribunal.


In NA-42 South Waziristan, Maulana Jamal ud Din Mehsud (JUI-F) was declared the winner.

This constituency had previously been vacant for five years, as most of the residents were

displaced due to the volatile security situation in the region. Voter turnout in NA-42 was around

12 percent. Many Mehsud voters were residing in DI Khan while their polling stations were set

up in Tank and vice versa, thereby preventing many IDPs from voting. Mehsud’s electoral

opponents have also taken their grievances to the election tribunal.

NA-43 and NA-44 are constituencies in Bajaur Agency. Haji Bismillah Khan--an elderly

parliamentarian and father of sitting KP Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan--won the

election in NA-43. With a dismal turnout of 26 percent, Bismillah Khan won by securing 13,872

votes. His arch rival Mr. Sahibzada Haroon Rashid (former JI parliamentarian rejected the

results alleging that Khan rigged polls and manipulated the results. It is worth mentioning that

both the governor’s brother Shaukatullah Khan and his father have both won elections in this

constituency.

In NA-44, Mr. Shahabuddin Khan Pashat won the National Assembly seat. A PML-N nominee,

Pashat had also been victorious previously in by-elections. At that time he was with the ANP

and later joined PML (Quaid e Azam) along with Engineer Ameer Muqam. At one time he was

also the provincial president of the National Awami Party (NAP) of Mr. Ajmal Khattak. Pashat is

an active member of the SBF-led FATA Agency Reforms Council in Bajaur and often raised the

issue of reforms in his campaign activities. Candidates who failed to win in NA-44 have rejected

his success and alleged that he rigged the polls.

In NA-45 Khyber Agency, a well-known transporter, Mr. Shahjee Gul Afridi won and defeated

the twice-elected former MNA Mr. Noorul Haq Qadri. Many claim that Shahjee Gul used money

to win votes and violated the ECP code of conduct.

In NA-46 Khyber Agency, political parties and independent candidates accused each other of

rigging, snatched ballot boxes and destroyed ballot papers, resulting in violence and casualties.

As a result, the ECP has declared re-polling at 21 polling stations in Bara. After the suspension of

voting, candidates have asked for the deployment of Army troops inside polling stations to

ensure the transparency of voting and the subsequent ballot counting.

Polling stations set up for IDPs from Bara subdivisions were poorly located and very far away

from where voters live. A large number of people gathered at Shahkas Levy Center while many

went to Jalozai Camp. Many people did not know where they should go to cast their vote. At

Durrani Camp in Kurram Agency, people had access to polling stations but due to security and

transportation problems, many of them unable to cast their votes. Re-polling for the 21 NA-46


polling stations was held on June 5. Polling stations were located in places where voters had

difficulty accessing them. The Army was deployed where elections were being held.

In NA-47 Frontier Regions the contest was a close one. Qaisar Jamal Afridi of Pakistan Tehreek-

e-Insaf (PTI) was declared the winning candidate by the ECP. His rival Mufti Abdul Shakoor

Betani (JUI-F) from FR Lakki rejected the election results and demanded a new election.

Another candidate, Engineer Shahi Khan Sheraniof the ANP, also stated that the elections were

rigged in NA-47. Following his victory, MNA Qaisar Jamal was visited at his residence by

members of the Frontier Regions Reforms Council and Shaheed Bhutto Foundation staff

members and is enthusiastic about the reforms agenda for FATA. He promised to work for

reforms implementation in FATA.

Women and Elections in FATA

Bajaur Agency

Bajaur Agency was the most peaceful agency as far as polling is concerned. No mishaps were

reported and a large number of women turned out to cast their votes. Large contingents of

levies and security force officials were also deployed at sensitive polling stations to thwart any

untoward incident. Badam Zari made history as a woman contesting elections here against 25

male candidates, many amongst them powerful chieftains from Bajaur Agency. Although she

received fewer than 200 votes, her courage is appreciated by many in FATA. She stood strong

like a rock and challenged male-dominated tribal society.

Khyber Agency

According to women in Khyber Agency, their turnout was very high. JI and PTI were successfully

able to mobilize women. In particular, JI arranged Dars sessions for women in Jamrud and

Landikotal and motivated them to vote. Most women, however, voted for PTI rather than JI.

Women complained that the staff at polling stations was not trained or efficient. Also, many

women--despite coming out of their houses and waiting for hours--were not able to cast their

votes due to poor arrangements. The political administration did not expect such a large

number of women voters and therefore arranged too few polling stations. Voting proceeded

peacefully except for a few isolated incidences of small arms fire that were quickly dealt with by

security forces.

Mohmand Agency

In Mohmand Agency, women’s participation was unexpectedly high. Women were satisfied

with the arrangements of the ECP and there were a large number of polling stations for women


at very accessible locations. Nearly all candidates tried to mobilize women voters, and as a

result hundreds of women voted in Mohmand. No incidents of violence occurred except in

Bahai Dag where a local peace committee member was killed when shots were fired in the air,

prompting levies personnel to return fire. Four people along with a levie official were arrested

in connection with the incident. Voting, however, did not stop despite the incident.

Frontier Regions

In FR Bannu, reports were received that more than 2,000 women’s ballots were stolen. In FR

Peshawar, a Shaheed Bhutto Foundation FATA Reforms Council coordinator reported that at

Government High School Sra Dargai (a combined polling station) only one woman had cast a

vote as of 2:00 pm. In the FRs, not many women cast votes due to security threats.

Kurram Agency

In Upper Kurram (NA-37), women actively participated in the elections, which proceeded

peacefully amidst strict security measures. Even after elections, women have been involved in

protests against rigging and the use of violence in certain areas. Security forces and Kurram

levies personnel were deployed in sensitive parts of the agency to foil any potential threats. In

NA-38 Sadda, the headquarters of Lower Kurram, elections were postponed by the Election

Commission of Pakistan (ECP) due to the ongoing military operation.

North Waziristan Agency

Women were universally deprived of their right to adult franchise in North Waziristan, Lakki

Marwat and Lower Dir as it was deemed un-Islamic by extremists. Media sources reported that

in Miranshah tribesmen were informed through mosque loudspeakers early Saturday that no

woman would be allowed to leave her home and cast vote. Earlier on Wednesday, pamphlets

were also distributed in different areas of North Waziristan warning tribesmen not to allow

women to vote, threatening punishment for those who did so.

South Waziristan Agency

The Taliban shura (council), headed by Commander Salahuddin Ayubi, allowed women voters

from South Waziristan Agency area to exercise their franchise provided that proper purdah

(covering) arrangements were made at the polling stations.

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News & Politics

Elections in FATA: A Special Report (updated June 6, 2013)