SWABI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders have started holding corner meetings here to brief people about the party’s contributions to their welfare through different programmes and improving governance system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by its government and its future programme.

They said on Friday that it was critical part of the campaign for 2018 general elections through which they wanted to enlist support of the people.

Also, the party leaders would give a plan for its office-bearers to play their role in canvassing for the next elections.

Talking to this correspondent, MNA Aqibullah Khan said that according to the strategy they would remain in contact with the people through local activists to pinpoint and resolve their problems.

PTI district president Anwar Haqdad said that the local leaders would coordinate the party’s campaign in every constituency and regularly brief the high command of the developments and campaign of other political parties in respective areas.

Other political parties, including Awami National Party, are yet to start their campaign in the district.

Meanwhile, sources said that confusion prevailed among the ANP leaders that if the district’s six provincial assembly constituencies were reduced to five who would surrender the party ticket.

They said that the party leadership had awarded election tickets to candidates for two National Assembly and six provincial assembly constituencies of the district, but confusion ensued after reports that the Election Commission of Pakistan might reduce the number of constituencies to five.

ANP district president Ameer Rehman said that the plan to reduce the seats had shocked them, as the population of the district had increased over the years.

“We oppose reduction in the seats and have decided to participate in the protest against the plan because it would create a sense of deprivation among the local people,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2018