SWABI: Awami National Party has offered the district naib nazim slot to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F in a bid to thwart the PTI plan to form local government at the district and the tehsil levels with the support of JUI-F.

ANP district president Ameer Rehman told Dawn on Tuesday that he had been in touch with the JUI-F leaders to establish a coalition government in the district.

“We have 22 district councillors and JUI-F seven out of 53 councillors, while the result on three union councils is still awaited. Pakistan Muslim League-N is also supporting us in formation of the district government,” he added.

ANP, JUI-F and PPP contested together the May-30 local government elections.

On the other hand, PTI and JUI-F leaders said they were close to striking a deal to establish a coalition government in Chota Lahor tehsil as the former has offered tehsil nazim slot to the latter despite the fact the ruling party has more members in the tehsil house than any other party.

“By offering JUI-F the tehsil nazim slot, PTI wants to create a gulf between JUI-F and ANP,” said an ANP leader.

In the district assembly, ANP has 22 members, JUI-F seven, PTI 10, Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan six, and Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, QWP, JI and PML-N two each.

Re-polling would be held in some polling stations of Dobian union council, Saleem Khan and Bachai on July 30.

PTI leaders have been pursuing winning candidates to establish coalition government in the district and Swabi and Chota Lahor tehsils.

“We are negotiating with the elected members the establishment of coalition government,” said Anwar Haqdad, former PTI district president.

He said PTI had no problem in forming local government in Topi tehsil as it enjoyed clear majority, adding the party wanted to enter into an alliance with the JUI to form governments in the district and Chota Lahor, where it lacked majority.

However, ANP leaders said since PTI had only 10 members in the district assembly it couldn’t form the local government.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2015

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