Strategising: PML-N decides to go solo in LG polls

To form committees at district level for awarding party tickets.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to go solo with regards to the local government (LG) polls in the province.

During a meeting at the PML-N provincial secretariat on Saturday, the party leadership directed district-level office bearers to draw disgruntled activists back to the fold.

As for its strategy for the local government elections, the party has decided that instead of forging alliances with other political parties, it will set up committees at the district level. The committees will comprise district office bearers who will award party tickets to candidates to contest the local government elections in their respective regions.

Held under the chair of PML-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah, the meeting was attended by the party’s central secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and provincial general secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak along with other senior members of the party.

After receiving feedback from district office bearers across the province, the PML-N leadership decided to begin preparations for the elections under the guidance of the committees that will be set up.

Addressing a news conference after the meeting, Shah said the party will show good results in the local government elections. “All the party workers who are disgruntled and have grievances will be satisfied and accorded due positions in the party,” said Shah.

In a bid to highlight the party’s strength in the province, the PML-N provincial president said, “The party grabbed 0.9 million votes in the May general elections, indicating it will lead the province in the future.” He added people are satisfied with the nine-month rule of PML-N at the centre.

Earlier during the meeting, party leaders passed a resolution expressing full confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for advocating supremacy of democracy in the country. The resolution stated that “the meeting of the party’s K-P chapter fully supports the government’s initiation of dialogue with the Taliban.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2014.