# Junaid Akbar

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. He has also been serving as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee since January 2025.

## Early life

He was born on 26 October 1977 and grew up in the Malakand District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

## Political career

Akbar was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from NA-35 (Malakand Protected Area) in the 2013 Pakistani general election. He received 51,312 votes and defeated a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F).
He was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of PTI from NA-8 (Malakand) in 2018 Pakistani general election. He received 81,310 votes and defeated Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
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.
As a lawmaker, he delivered speeches in support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Imran Khan 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.
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."
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."
On 24 January 2025, he was elected unopposed as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly.
On 25 January 2025, he was appointed by Imran Khan as the president of PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, replacing Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

## Electoral history
### 2013 general election

2013 General Election: NA-35 (Malakand Protected Area) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | 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 | Majority | Majority | 28,983 | 20.85 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 138,984 | 45.95 | +14.66 |
| | PTI gain from PPPP | PTI gain from PPPP | | | |
A total of 4,362 votes were rejected.

### 2018 general election

General election 2018: NA-8 (Malakand Protected Area) :
| Party | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | 186,429 | 48.24 | 2.29 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5,591 | 3.00 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 37,586 | 20.16 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 386,449 | | |
| | PTI hold | 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. Junaid Akbar won the election with 113,545 votes.
General election 2024: NA-9 Malakand :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Junaid Akbar | 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 | Turnout | Turnout | 202,083 | 43.14 | 5.10 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 5,729 | 2.83 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 72,760 | 37.06 | 16.90 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 468,451 | | |