Three influential leaders of the business community from NWFP, who tried their luck in the recently concluded parliamentary elections, failed to make it to the National Assembly and NWFP Assembly respectively.
The three contesting candidates were included the recent past president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Liaquat Ahmad Khan, sitting president of Tribal Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TACCI) and Haji Nasim-ur-Rehman a known industrialists of Mardan.
Liaquat Ahmad Khan was contesting election from NA-13, Swabi and was defeated by ANP candidate Pervez Khan, while Mohammad Akbar Khan was PPP candidate for provincial assembly constituency PF-1, Peshawar, who was defeated by Haji Alamzeb Khan of ANP.
The known industrialist of tobacco sector, Haji Nasim-ur-Rehman, a former MNA was fielded by nationalist ANP on NA-11, Mardan-III against senior leader of PPP, Abdul Akbar Khan. Mr Khan, who was contesting for National Assembly seat for first time in his 40 years active political carrier, won against Haji Nasim-ur-Rehman.
The only member of SCCI, who made it to NWFP assembly, was Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who defeated Haji Mohammad Iqbal of PPP from PF-3 and won it for fifth consecutive time.