SWABI: The Jamaat-i-Islami councillors, who revolted against their own party nazim, were on Wednesday able to get a no-trust move sail through the Swabi tehsil council with the support of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and other parties, de-seating the nazim and his deputy.

Meanwhile, the ousted nazim Wahid Shah and naib nazim Gohar Khan of ANP accused the PTI provincial leaders -- health minister Shahram Khan Tarakai and Speaker Asad Qaisar – of playing a key role in their ouster, which was ‘illegal and unconstitutional’.

According to political analysts, the ouster of the JI nazim and naib nazim had dealt a blow to the seven-party Swabi Democratic Alliance.

The session was presided over by councillor Rashid Sohail, and voting on the no-confidence motion was done with a show of hands. Sixteen members voted against the nazim in a 22-member house.

In a 22-member house, 16 councillors voted against nazim

The JI and PTI councillors celebrated their victory and said those who failed to work for people’s welfare had been shown the door.

It is learnt that PTI, JI and leaders of the other parties are expected to meet soon to finalise the names for the slots of tehsil nazim and naib nazim.

Sources said it was expected that nazim would be from JI and his deputy from PTI.

PTI district president Anwar Haqdad said it was good omen that his had become part of another tehsil government. The ruling party has already established its governments in Topi and Chota Lahor tehsils.

During the session, tight security measures were taken to avoid any untoward incident because of the tense situation.

On Monday, the now ousted nazim had got registered an FIR in the city police station against councillors Iqbal Zada and Jamshed Khan for allegedly opening fire on him and his nephew. In the firing incident, the nazim’s nephew was injured, said a police official.

However, on Tuesday the two councillors had secured a bail before arrest from a local court thus, paving the way for their participation in the council session on Wednesday.

The ousted naib nazim Gohar Khan said he was not allowed to preside over the council session which was his constitutional right.

He said participation of two women councillors in the voting process was illegal because one of them had already tendered resignation and the other had not yet taken the oath.

However, it is learnt that one of the women councillors was administered oath by the assistant commissioner.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2017