PTI finalises ticket allocation plan for tribal areas

Election candidates to be chosen on basis of competence, capability and popularity

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Mehmood Khan has chalked up the procedure for nomination of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates for provincial assembly elections in tribal districts.

The chief minister on Wednesday visited the central party secretariat and held a meeting with chief organiser Saifullah Niazi.

Provincial Minister for Information Shaukat Yusufzai and Prime Minister’s Special Advisor for Tribal Areas Ajmal Khan Wazir were also present.

During the meeting, the CM was given a detailed briefing on performance of the provincial government and reforms in various government departments were reviewed. The participants also discussed various matters related to tribal areas, including elections for provincial assembly constituencies.

After a comprehensive consultation, the meeting decided to form a three-member parliamentary board to frame guiding principles for the selection of party candidates for elections in tribal areas. It was decided the election tickets would be given on the basis of competence, capability and wide popularity in public.

Later, CM Khan and K-P governor Shah Farman also held a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.

Others present at the meeting included PM’s special assistant Iftikhar Durrani and principal secretary Azam Khan. The two provincial leaders briefed the premier regarding the on-going measures for tribal areas and a detailed review regarding Khyber district visit was also made.

The prime minister assured the two leaders the federal government will ensure funds meant for the tribal areas are consistently provided so that development schemes are not affected.

The federal government has also approved Rs58 billion worth development budget for tribal areas. These funds will be given to the K-P government, which is expected to use them for development of the tribal regions.