PESHAWAR -  Both Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have started flexing their muscles to win the NA-1 Peshawar seat in the upcoming by-elections.
The seat was vacated by Imran Khan after defeating the ANP's strong candidate Ghulam Ahmad Bilour in the last general elections.
Most of the political analysts have linked the wining of this seat with PTI on the basis of its two-month performance in the province. However, its ideological workers still defend their leadership and vowed full support of PTI in the upcoming by-polls on NA-1. At the same time, NA-1 holds symbolic importance for ANP as this constituency has been the stronghold of its politics in the province and in the case of victory there may be seen as a revival of the secular party after a crushing defeat at the hands of PTI in the last general elections.
Other political parties have stayed away from the electoral fight in support of either of the parties, making the fight more significant.
The ANP has again fielded Ghulam Ahmad Bilour for the constituency while PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl are supporting the ANP for this seat.
Talking to The Nation, ANP Provincial Information Secretary Malik Ghulam Mustfa said that his party has started campaign for the upcoming by-polls scheduled to be held on August 22. He said that the masses have observed the performance of PTI and they will not be deceived this time by hollow slogans of change.
Though PTI has fielded Gul Badshah for the NA-01 seat, yet Samad Mursalin, who is an ideological worker, is also active in his campaign. He said that all dissident candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers in favour of his support and that is why his election campaign is in full swing.
Both, Gul Bacha and Samad Mursalin are using PTI banner for the upcoming elections, however, the ticket has been awarded to Gul Bacha, however, Samad Mursaline is also claiming that he has served the party for the last 17 years and that is why it is his right to be allotted the party ticket.
The PTI is also being supported by JI and Qaumi Watan Party, which are the coalition partners in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. NA-1 is one of the most coveted seats and has attracted senior politicians including former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, PTI chief Imran Khan and QWP chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao in the past. But Bilour has been formidable, having won from this constituency four times.
In the 1988 by-elections, Bilour won the seat after it was vacated by the then chief minister Sherpao and in 1990 he defeated Benazir Bhutto in the general elections. He also won this seat in 1997 and 2008.
Tough contest likely in Na-27 by-polls:
Ghulam Mursalin Marwat from Lakki Marwat adds: Area politics took an interesting turn on Sunday when a close aide of Saifullah brothers and former City Nazim Advocate Naimatullah Khan Khoidadkhel joined Jamiat Ulumai Islam (Fazl).
Naimatullah made this announcement at his residence here at Khoidadkhel locality. JUI-F contender Maulana Attaur Rehman, Haji Muhammad Aslam Khan, MPA Munawar Khan's brother Haji Ameer Nawaz Khan, and JUI-F local leaders were also present on the occasion.
Naimatullah, who is also president of Lakki District Bar Association, said that his family, supports and well wishers would extend full support and cooperation to Maulana Attaur Rehman in by-elections on NA-27 Lakki Marwat. He claimed that Atta would win election with heavy margin. He called upon his family members and supports to join hands with JUI-F activists to strengthen and accelerate the election campaign of Atta.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Col (Retd) Ameerullah Marwat accelerated his electioneering to give a tough time to JUI-F aspirant Maulana Atta.
A one-on-one contest is expected between Maulana Attaur Rehman and Ameerullah as Saifullah brothers are not in the poll arena while a PML-N leader Akhtar Munir is seriously thinking upon to withdraw from the election race. The JUI-F is striving hard to grab the support of area elders and political elite to strengthen the position of its candidate.
Ameerullah of PTI also held several successful election gatherings in rural localities wherein people assured him that they would cast their votes in his favour. Speaking at the gathering Ameerullah said that PTI would bring change in all fields with the help of people.
"Our government will eliminate corruption and improve governance system in the province," he maintained. He told that religious elements could not deceive masses in the name of Islam anymore for the sake of their own vested interests.  He said that residents of the district were political mature and they would reject the non-local aspirant.