PTI weighs alliances in select districts

Hopes to secure majorities in Khushab, Sahiwal, Layyah, Mianwali municipal bodies

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) might forge alliances in select district councils to gain control of local governments.

However, party leaders are tight lipped with regard to details of the possible arrangements fearing sabotage by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).



Provincial organiser Chaudhry Sarwar says that although the PML-N has done better in the elections, the PTI has put up a good fight. “We have performed quite well considering the challenges we faced,” he says.

“People will now get some representation in the governance of their areas. Local government structures do allow elected people a certain degree of independence.” He says PTI candidates were obstructed in their campaigns. The party hopes to secure majorities in municipal committees in Khushab, Sahiwal, Layyah and Mianwali.

An analysis of poll results by the PTI indicates that the party can muster support of the majority in 23 municipal committees. It might be able to forge alliances with independent candidates in four more municipal committees.

In Sahiwal, the party has secured majorities in Chichawatni and Kameer municipal committees. Of the seven municipal committees in Mianwali district, five have returned PTI majorities.



Of the seven municipal committees in Khushab, the PTI enjoys majorities in Naushera and Hadali.

In Gujrat and Chakwal, the party has secured majorities in Kharian and Boon municipal committees. It also enjoys majorities in the municipal committees of Fazilpur and Rojhan in Rajanpur district.

Sarwar says district organisers have been empowered to decide with regard to alliances in their areas.

In some municipal committees, the PTI will have to woo independents to manufacture majorities. These include municipal committees of Dijkot in Faisalabad, Mustafabad in Kasur, Kot Momin in Sargodha and Fateh Jang and Jand in Attock.



The party has secured 12 seats in the Toba Tek Singh municipal committee. A similar number of seats has been won by the PML-N. The PTI leaders claim that they have support of three of the five independent candidates who have been elected.

PTI Toba Tek Singh organiser Ahmed Nawaz says of the 29 district municipal committee seats, 12 each have been won by the PTI and the PMLN; five seats were won by independent candidates. “Out of the five, we have secured support of three,” Nawaz claims. “Three wedding halls owned by one of these councillors were sealed soon after he announced his support for us,” he says. “Despite the victimisation, the independent candidates are still with us.”

In Layyah which has five municipal committees, the PTI has secured the most seats in Chowk Azam and Kehror Lal Eisan. It requires one more seat to lead these committees.



The party also aims to make its presence felt in district councils.

According to party officials, talks are under way in this regard with independent candidates in certain district councils.

“We did not do well in Toba Tek Singh… still there is a possibility of forming a pressure group with help from 17 independents,” Nawaz says.

Sarwar acknowledges that the party is exploring possibilities of forging alliances for district councils, but he refuses to provide details. “At this point, I can only say that we will evaluate the available options.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2015.