PESHAWAR, Jan 31: Pakistan People’s Party, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Anwar Saifullah Khan on Thursday said it was his party’s turn to form the next government in the province after elections.

“We will contest the next elections in the province without forming alliance with any political group and emerge as the largest party in the province. All other parties have formed governments in the province and now, it is our turn to rule the province,” he said.

Chairing a meeting of the party cabinet at the house of provincial assembly speaker Kiramatullah Khan Chagharmatti here on Thursday, Mr Saifullah said seat adjustments could be opted afterwards if PPP considered it necessary over low vote bank.

He said the PPP parliamentary board had already been formed to fulfill duties relating to nomination of candidates for the next elections in the province.

The five-member board comprises Anwar Saifullah Khan, deputy speaker of National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, MNA Najmuddin Khan, senior provincial minister Rahim Dad Khan and Senator Sardar Ali Khan.

An insider said it was compulsion of the party to avoid alliance because workers were not ready to work for any candidate of the rest of political parties and it could affect PPP’s position in the elections.

He said the main issue facing the leadership pertained to lack of employment opportunities for workers and if the issue was not effectively addressed, then thousands of PPP activists could switch loyalty during the next elections.

Later speaking at a public meeting at Chagharmatti, Mr Saifullah indirectly came hard on Awami National Party and said the ‘so-called champions of Pakhtuns rights’ had bargained over rights of Pakhtuns and that it was time that the people hold all wrongdoers accountable for their actions.

“We will take revolutionary steps for revival of all sick industrial units, provision of jobs to party workers, restoration of peace, management of loadshedding and strengthening of economy if the people elect us to power,” he said.

Provincial minister Sher Azam Wazir, MPA Abdul Akbar Khan and PPP provincial coordination secretary Ayub Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Chagharmatti said the credit for focusing on the poor people’s welfare went to his party.

He asked PPP workers to shun differences and support party candidates for victory in elections. He said the PPP leadership encouraged workers to raise issues and voice for their rights.

Mr Abdul Akbar said it was the PPP government in the centre that restored pension and gratuity for retired government employees, and made policies for the welfare of the poor people.

He said despite the fact that no government could solve all problems, his party tried its level best to improve the living standard of the people.