Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has a total of 12 National Assembly seats; Bajaur Agency has two seats, Mohmand one, Khyber two, Orakzai one, Kurram two, North Waziristan one and South Waziristan two. The frontier regions of Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat form a single constituency, NA-47. The total number of registered voters in Fata for the 2013 Elections was 1,738,313, including 596,079 women.
The 2013 election is seen to be different, in positive aspects, from that of 2008. Almost every political party fielded its candidate for polls in Fata. The most amazing side of the polls was the record voters’ turnout and women voters specially. Although, there were continuous threats given by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan amid the General Elections, even then the militancy riddled, but peace searching, people of FATA came out on 11th May to vote in the interest of their bright future. Voters’ turnout also shows the political awareness of the people, which was very slight in the past.
Badam Zari became the first woman in Fata to take part in the event from NA-44, which is considered to be an encouraging step for the common woman of the region. Keeping in view the bold step taken by the strong lady it can be assumed that the women of FATA want to represent themselves and they have the talent to do so. Badam Zari has come up as the shining sun that arises in the cold December. The hopes of the poor people of FATA have gone higher after seeing a lady among them, taking a bold step.
There was a long list of aspirants who stood for the elections from the 12 constituencies. Out of these 12 constituencies, the results of 9 have been confirmed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Independent candidates Bilal Rehman from NA 36, Sajid Hussain from NA-37, Syed Ghazi from NA-39, Muhammad Nazir from NA-40, Bismillah Khan from NA 43 and Alhaj Shahjee from NA-45, Muhammad Jamal ud Din of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (F) from NA-42, Shahab Ud Din Khan of Pakistan Muslim League (N) from NA-44 and Qaisar Jamal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from NA-47 won National Assembly seats for their respective constituencies.
Out of these 9 confirmed results, 6 candidates stood as independent and the remaining 3 from their respected parties. Just by simply considering the result it can be deduced that the 6 independent candidates won on the basis of their own individual affiliations and strong personality. And no major political party succeeded in withdrawing the attention of their voters towards them. One reason for this result could be the manifestos of the political parties which were least interested to the people. In the coming years it would be interesting to see, if the major political parties could get success in drawing the attention of the people.
The 2013 General Elections in FATA have brought many important aspects of the area under light. The women representation and the political awareness among the people are very encouraging and promising for the bright future of the region.
Elections in FATA: An Overview
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has a total of 12 National Assembly seats; Bajaur Agency has two seats, Mohmand one, Khyber two, Orakzai one, Kurram two, North Waziristan one and South Waziristan two. The frontier regions of Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat form a single constituency, NA-47. The total number of registered voters in Fata for the 2013 Elections was 1,738,313, including 596,079 women.
The 2013 election is seen to be different, in positive aspects, from that of 2008. Almost every political party fielded its candidate for polls in Fata. The most amazing side of the polls was the record voters’ turnout and women voters specially. Although, there were continuous threats given by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan amid the General Elections, even then the militancy riddled, but peace searching, people of FATA came out on 11th May to vote in the interest of their bright future. Voters’ turnout also shows the political awareness of the people, which was very slight in the past.
Badam Zari became the first woman in Fata to take part in the event from NA-44, which is considered to be an encouraging step for the common woman of the region. Keeping in view the bold step taken by the strong lady it can be assumed that the women of FATA want to represent themselves and they have the talent to do so. Badam Zari has come up as the shining sun that arises in the cold December. The hopes of the poor people of FATA have gone higher after seeing a lady among them, taking a bold step.
There was a long list of aspirants who stood for the elections from the 12 constituencies. Out of these 12 constituencies, the results of 9 have been confirmed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Independent candidates Bilal Rehman from NA 36, Sajid Hussain from NA-37, Syed Ghazi from NA-39, Muhammad Nazir from NA-40, Bismillah Khan from NA 43 and Alhaj Shahjee from NA-45, Muhammad Jamal ud Din of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (F) from NA-42, Shahab Ud Din Khan of Pakistan Muslim League (N) from NA-44 and Qaisar Jamal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from NA-47 won National Assembly seats for their respective constituencies.
Out of these 9 confirmed results, 6 candidates stood as independent and the remaining 3 from their respected parties. Just by simply considering the result it can be deduced that the 6 independent candidates won on the basis of their own individual affiliations and strong personality. And no major political party succeeded in withdrawing the attention of their voters towards them. One reason for this result could be the manifestos of the political parties which were least interested to the people. In the coming years it would be interesting to see, if the major political parties could get success in drawing the attention of the people.
The 2013 General Elections in FATA have brought many important aspects of the area under light. The women representation and the political awareness among the people are very encouraging and promising for the bright future of the region.