Junaid Akbar (Urdu: جنید اکبر; born 23 March 1977) is a Pakistani politician who has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since February 2024 from NA-9 Malakand, and previously served in this position from August 2018 till January 2023 and from June 2013 to May 2018. Junaid Akbar is one of the core and top members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He has luminous services for the party in various capacities including that of Provincial Joint Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Junaid Akbar | |
|---|---|
| جنیداکبر | |
 | |
| Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan | |
| Assumed office 29 February 2024 | |
| Constituency | NA-9 Malakand |
| In office 13 August 2018 – 20 January 2023 | |
| Constituency | NA-8 (Malakand Protected Area) |
| Majority | 37,586 (20.16%) |
| In office 1 June 2013 – 31 May 2018 | |
| Constituency | NA-35 (Malakand) |
| Majority | 28,983 (20.85%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 March 1977 |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Political party | PTI (2013-present) |
Early life
He was born on 26 October 1977 in the Malakand District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[1]
Political career
Akbar was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from Constituency NA-35 (Malakand Protected Area) in 2013 Pakistani general election.[2][3][4][5] He received 51,312 votes and defeated a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F).[6]
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-8 (Malakand Protected Area) in 2018 Pakistani general election.[7] He received 81,310 votes and defeated Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party.[8]
He was re-elected for the third time from NA-9 Malakand in 2024 Pakistani general election as a PTI-backed Independent candidate. He won and secured 113,513 votes while the runner-up, Syed Ahmad Ali Shah of PPP bagged 40,740 votes.[9]
As a lawmaker, he delivered speeches in support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan[10] and was appointed as a focal person to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur in the National Assembly of Pakistan, though he was later removed from the position amidst rifts in the party.[11]
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur relieved Junaid Akbar as well as Mohammad Atif Khan, Sher Ali Arbab from PTI party positions. According to The News International "Atif Khan and another PTI MNA Junaid Akbar Khan had taken a stand for the former provincial minister for communication and works Shakeel Ahmad Khan when Chief Minister Gandapur removed him from the provincial cabinet allegedly on corruption charges."[12]
According to another press media, The Express Tribune, "sources reported that Atif Khan's removal followed his public support for the dismissed Minister Shakeel Khan, while Sher Ali Arbab's refusal to sign a declaration of confidence in the Chief Minister led to his ouster."[13]
In Business Recorder, "sources said that MNAs Junaid, Atif Khan, and ex-provincial minister Shakeel Khan held detailed meetings with Arif Alvi. They complained about the chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, saying he is completely ignoring the leaders and workers who raise voice against the injustices within the party."[14]
Electoral history
2013 general election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg){kind=small} PTI
|
Junaid Akbar | 51,312 | 36.92 | ||
 JUI-F
|
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed | 22,329 | 16.07 | ||
 PPPP
|
Lal Muhammad Khan | 19,081 | 13.73 | −48.14 | |
 PML-N
|
Fida Muhammad | 18,207 | 13.10 | +4.48 | |
 JI
|
Bakhtiar Maani | 16,397 | 11.80 | ||
 ANP
|
Rahmat Shah Sael | 8,709 | 6.26 | −3.48 | |
| Tehreek-e-Pasmanada Awam Pakistan | Muhammad Ibrar | 1,146 | 0.82 | ||
| Independent | Bacha Hussain | 972 | 0.70 | ||
| Independent | Alamgir | 411 | 0.30 | ||
| Independent | Ijazur Rahman | 227 | 0.16 | ||
| Independent | Alhaj Muhammad Khan | 193 | 0.14 | ||
| Majority | 28,983 | 20.85 | |||
| Turnout | 138,984 | 45.95 | +14.66 | ||
| PTI gain from PPPP | |||||
A total of 4,362 votes were rejected.
2018 general election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTI | Junaid Akbar | 81,310 | 43.61 |  6.69
| |
| PPP | Bilawal Bhutto Zardari | 43,724 | 23.45 | 9.72
| |
| MMA | Gul Naseeb Khan | 31,379 | 16.83 |  11.04†
| |
| Others | Others (ten candidates) | 24,065 | 12.91 | ||
| Turnout | 186,429 | 48.24 | 2.29
| ||
| Rejected ballots | 5,591 | 3.00 | |||
| Majority | 37,586 | 20.16 | |||
| Registered electors | 386,449 | ||||
| PTI hold | Swing | N/A | |||
†JI and JUI-F contested as part of MMA
2024 general election
General elections were held on 8 February 2024.[16] Junaid Akbar won the election with 113,545 votes.[17]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Junaid Akbar[a] | 113,545 | 57.83 | 14.22
| |
| PPP | Syed Ahmad Ali Shah | 40,785 | 20.77 | 2.68
| |
| JUI (F) | Kifayat Ullah | 16,785 | 8.55 | N/A | |
| JI | Jamal Ud Din | 16,268 | 8.29 | N/A | |
| Others | Others (eleven candidates) | 8,971 | 4.57 | ||
| Turnout | 202,083 | 43.14 | 5.10
| ||
| Rejected ballots | 5,729 | 2.83 | |||
| Majority | 72,760 | 37.06 | 16.90
| ||
| Registered electors | 468,451 | ||||
See also
Notes
- ^ Filed nomination papers as PTI candidate but ECP allowed him to run as an Independent
References
- ^ "Detail Information". www.pildat.org. PILDAT. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "PTI finalises names of candidates for KP". DAWN.COM. 3 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "PTI grabs lone Malakand Agency NA seat". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "JUI-F, PML-N MNAs want Imran's NA seat declared vacant". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Official results: PML-N leading the race in National Assembly - The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "2013 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Junaid Akbar PTI wins NA-8 election". Associated Press Of Pakistan. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "NA-8 Result - Election Results 2018 - Malakand - NA-8 Candidates - NA-8 Constituency Details - thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "Independent candidate Junaid Akbar wins NA-9 election". 2024-02-09. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ "People voted for us on random symbols for PTI founder: Junaid Akbar". ARY NEWS. 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ "KP CM de-notifies MNA Junaid Akbar as focal person". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ "Rift in PTI deepens as Gandapur removes key leaders from party positions". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ Tribune (2024-08-27). "PTI's internal power struggle escalates in K-P as CM Gandapur removes top arty leaders". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ Ahmad, Zulfiqar (2024-08-29). "Alvi starts meeting PTI disgruntled leaders". Brecorder. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ "ECP – Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "Election Commission of Pakistan". ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "NA-9 Election Result 2024 Malakand, Candidates List". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2024-10-16.