Khattak family rivalry heats up in Nowshera elections

The upcoming elections in the Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will witness a fierce competition within the Khattak family, as several members of the clan are vying for different seats.

The most prominent among them is Pervaiz Khattak, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTIP) and former chief minister of the province, who has submitted nomination papers for two provincial and one national seat. However, he will have to face his own brother and nephew in two of the constituencies.

According to the election commission, 351 candidates have received nomination papers in Nowshera, out of which 125 have submitted them so far. Pervaiz Khattak will contest from NA-26, PK-85 and PK-88 seats. In PK-85, he will be challenged by his younger brother Liaquat Khattak, who is also a PTI leader and a former provincial minister. Liaquat Khattak has accused his elder brother of nepotism and corruption, and has vowed to defeat him in the polls.

In PK-88, Pervaiz Khattak will face his nephew Ahad Khattak, who is the son of his cousin and former MPA Idrees Khattak. Ahad Khattak is also a PTI member and has claimed that he enjoys the support of the local party workers and voters. He has said that he will expose the misdeeds of his uncle and bring positive change in the area.

The Khattak family has a long history of political influence and rivalry in Nowshera district, which is considered their stronghold. The upcoming elections will test their popularity and unity, as well as their loyalty to PTI and its leader Imran Khan, who has reportedly tried to resolve the differences among them.