KOHAT: The scheduled re-polling on four seats on July 5 will decide which of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the PML-N-backed Azeem Bagh group would form the local government in Kohat district.

The PTI had emerged as the single largest party in the May 30 LG polls with 14 seats in a house of 32, but Azeem Bagh group with the support of independents and other parties had also come close to forming the local government though the PML-N got only one seat in the polls.

The group has been claiming the support of five independents, six JUI-F candidates, Matiullah Shah, who announced to join PML-N, Mehtabul Hassan and PPP’s Musawar.

It is important to note here that the PML-N had got a single seat in the polls, but KP chief minister’s adviser MPA Amjid Khan Afridi though a PTI comrade has reportedly gathered 14 councillors under the umbrella of Azeem Bagh group to strengthen the position of his brother, former PML-N senator and textile minister Abbas Afridi to win the support of Nawaz Sharif.

Group backed by PML-N also in the race

The tripartite alliance, meanwhile, lost its identity after losing miserably due to serious differences in its parties’ ranks over seat adjustment and their all elected members had either joined PTI or Azeem Bagh group.

After joining of Matiullah Shah the group had an edge over PTI by one vote.

Political observers say that the Azeem Bagh wants to present a gift to Nawaz Sharif in the shape of district government or play the role of a strong opposition. They claim that Amjid Afridi of PTI is an intelligent politician with futuristic approach and wants to make room for his brother in the next general elections and make PML-N alive once again in the district.

With the re-polling in Kharmato, two seats of Shakardarra I and II and Urban-6 scheduled for July 5, both sides have an ample time and level playing field to win these seats and become successful in race for establishing the district government, said local political activist Fazal Mehmood Ain.

Gohar Saifullah Khan, a former district nazim, is dishearten by end of the tripartite alliance under which JUI-F to which he belonged could easily form government at the tehsil level where it was the single largest party with six seats. The PTI is likely to win the seats from Kharmato and Shakardarra whereas the seat of Urban-6 could go either way.

The election was held on 32 union council seats in Kohat, but the members of 17 reserved seats in the house for women, labour, minority and youth would play a key role in the formation of the district and tehsil governments.

Initially, the PTI had grabbed 11 seats in the district council polls against JUI-F which could take four seats, while the independents swept through the local government elections with 13 seats. The PPP could get two seats, and PML-N and ANP one seat each.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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