After the proper announcement of final list of contested candidates and acceptance of nomination papers, candidates of different political parties and independent have formally kicked off election campaign in the Mohmand tribal district and rest of the tribal districts in tight security.
It was observed, door-to-door visits, small and big rallies, hoisting of colorful flags, banners started after the issuance of the acceptance and completing of scrutiny process of candidates by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Youth on motorcycles, with flags of their parties in their hands, is something new in the tribal history added to the election campaign in the past few days.
One can see a large number of young workers and men marching in the tribal constituency with flags of their party and huge portraits of their candidates and political leaders. Most of these rallies, even smaller, are being guarded by the Levies forces and their personal guards.
"Self security is first and that is why the leadership has to inform the local administration before starting rally with our flag and election symbol," Saifullah, a young worker of a political party who was a part of a large rally comprising around 300 peoples in Shaheed Banda Pandiali tehsil. Four Levies personnel were moving ahead of the rally while others were escorting in a van.
"All the political workers are freely going to outdoor activities and they conducted big rallies in each tehsil of the tribal district. We are ready to die for a cause," said Zabit Khan, another political activist participating in a rally in Ambar.
PTI is among the five parties, including Awami National Party, Jamati Islami, JUI-F and Pakistan People's Party that have been sped up their election campaign to attracts more voters. Candidates, voters and especially young people from PTI enthusiastically looking forward to the elections, as they believe that party-based elections will help to overcome the backwardness and poverty which they say has oppressed the tribal people since the creation of Pakistan.
Despite political differences, most of candidates and political parties agree and celebrate the FATA merger into KP and they vowed that the abolishment of outdated tribal political system is good news and more democratic system should be introduced here.
Nisar Mohmand, president Mohmand Agency of the Awami National Party (ANP) and candidate for the NA-42, told that they had constituted tehsil and village wise units in the entire areas. He said that ANP also have women wing and NYO (National Youth Organizations) and they are busy day and night in election campaign in the area.
Nisar said that all the party workers tasked them to conduct meetings in Hujras and villages at night time. He said that for this time women will not cost the vote because the election commission Mohmand agency established women polling stations on non feasible places. Nisar blamed the election commission officials that they have intentionally established polling stations a distance of 7 to 8 kilometers.
Saeed Khan Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, candidate NA-42 in Mohmand agency said that the main activity of JI's election campaign is party recruitment gatherings. "Thousands of people" in Alingar, Sagi, Qandhrai, Ghazi Baig and Pandiali have joined the JI, he said, and JI workers also help people register themselves as voters. Saeed said JI's chief Sirjaul Haq and others leaders had addressed a number of large public gatherings in Mohmand Agency.
Mohmand Agency PTI leader and candidate for NA-42 Sajid Khan, said his party and particularly the youths and ISF have started its door to door campaign to reach the message of PTI chief's Imran Khan. He said that party workers have started its campaign also on social media to attract more and more new voters to the party.
"We adopted an excellent campaign of convincing tribal people after resolving their issues," Mohmand said. He said that tribesmen have many problems and disputes which they bring to administration offices and PTI workers then help them to settle their problems - and urge them to vote for PTI.
Malik Bilal Rehman, the last sitting former MNA for NA-42 for the last two terms, launched his campaign two months ago. Bilal's personal secretary, Jehan Zeb Mohmand, is pleased with his work. Using social media, especially Facebook, he regularly posts texts and photographs of development projects initiated by Malik Bilal Rehman in the last five years.
Former MNA Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq, the Agency Amir for Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (F) in Mohmand Agency, said his party believes in continued political campaigning. JUI-F has divided its election campaign into several phases. He said billboards, wall chalking and JUI workers' training were almost completed. He predicts that the coming election will be a tough task for them. He urged the party workers to work hard but he said JUI was well prepared to win in NA-42.