SWABI: As the PTI and ANP have announced that they’ll contest the July 25 elections in Swabi on their own, other political groups are striving for an electoral seat adjustment to challenge them.

Former PPP district president Javed Inqilabi, Qaumi Watan Party district chairman Masood Jabbar, district chief of JUI-F Attaul Haq Darvaish and PML-N leader Shiraz Khan are in contact for the purpose, sources told Dawn.

They said those leaders had held separate meetings to discuss all options of cooperation in elections for victory.

The sources said matters on seat adjustment would be finalised soon.

PTI, ANP have already announced they’ll contest elections on their own

Observers insist if these parties jointly contest elections in the district, then PTI and ANP will really be in trouble, especially when both face opposition from within over nominations.

The district has two National Assembly and five provincial assembly seats.

When contacted, ANP district president Ameer Rehman said the party didn’t make electoral alliance with others, fearing their workers and supporters won’t vote for its candidates.

However, PTI leader Asad Qaisar said his party didn’t need electoral alliance.

“Let all political parties face the PTI. I can predict right now that we (PTI) will sweep elections,” he told Dawn.

The PTI leader claimed that the ANP deceived voters, while the PML-N ignored the district.

Sources said leaders of the four parties acknowledged in their meetings that if they decided to contest elections alone, they would suffer defeat like previous elections.

They said the PML-N was interested in seat adjustment with likeminded parties in Swabi’s NA-19, PK-47 and some other provincial assembly constituencies.

PTI leader Shahram Khan Tarakai and ANP district president Ameer Rehman are also contesting elections there.

The QWP leaders have filed nomination papers in all constituencies but they are likely to contest elections in two or three of them in case of seat adjustment.

QWP district chairman Masood Jabbar has planned to contest elections in NA-18 and PK-44 but he is focusing his attention on the latter.

The JUI-F leaders insisted that the MMA had a strong electoral position in PK-43 and NA-18 and wanted to make it stronger though seat adjustment with other parties.

They said Maulana Attaul Haq Darvaish would contest elections in NA-19 and former minister Ghafoor Khan Jadoon’s son Ayaz Khan Jadoon in PK-43.

The PPP has focused its attention on PK-45 and PK-46. It has fielded former MPA Sikandar Irfan in PK-45and will choose between Ibn-i-Ali Khan and Akhunzada Asad for PK-46 elections.

The PPP sources said the party would contest elections in all Swabi constituencies if it failed to make seat adjustment with other parties though that option seemed to be not that workable.

VARSITIES PROMISED: Awami National Party provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has announced that after forming the next government in the province, his party would set up universities in all districts, end unemployment, restore peace and give people quality, modern education.

Addressing an election rally of the party in Shewa Adda area here, the ANP leader said his party always stood with Pakhtuns and would continue fighting for their rights.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2018