PML-N ask district leaders to mull possible alliances
Peshawar chapter negotiating with JI, insiders say
PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
With the political temperature rising prior to the (LG) polls, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz urged its district leaders to contemplate alliances with other parties, lest it be left out in the cold.
Even though the party’s provincial leadership distributed tickets among their candidates for district and tehsil council seats on Thursday, it has asked them to search for suitable alliances to guarantee more seats.
Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, PML-N’s provincial leadership has assigned the task of finding an appropriate alliance to all its district offices. A committee, comprising PML-N General Secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak and Vice President Amir Muqam, has been tasked to form district-level committees.
“These committees will make alliances and seat-to-seat adjustments with other parties at the district and tehsil level,” said PML-N K-P Information Secretary Nasir Khan Musazai.
Negotiating terms
PML-N’s Peshawar chapter is currently involved in negotiations with Jamaat-e-Islami, insiders added.
A delegation led by PML-N Peshawar president Sattar Khan Khalil visited the JI head office in Peshawar and discussed seat adjustments with JI Peshawar chief Sabir Hussain Awan and Khalid Waqas Chamkani.
“We have distributed 70% of the party’s tickets,” Khalil told The Express Tribune. “The process is likely to be completed on Friday.” Speaking about PML-N’s alliance with JI, Khalil said negotiations are under way and they will make possible seat adjustments before April 25.
Musazai said the party’s position is relatively stronger in two of the four towns in Peshawar district. However, Khalil maintained they have strong candidates in all four towns who will challenge contenders.
All geared up
“PML-N General Secretary Iqbal Zafar Jhagra will visit the provincial capital soon,” he said. “It will then be decided who will withdraw if adjustments have to be made for JI candidates.”
Jhagra has been tasked with the distribution of party tickets in Peshawar, while Muqam, Khattak and PML-N K-P President Pir Sabir Shah are responsible for the southern districts, Malakand Division and Hazara Division, respectively.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Muqam has urged the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to give a chance to PML-N in the same way as they did to Awami National Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Muqam said the party’s local leadership has been asked to form alliances to decide what is best for the party. “There are limited prospects to enter into bigger alliances for the elections as time is running out,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2015.
With the political temperature rising prior to the (LG) polls, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz urged its district leaders to contemplate alliances with other parties, lest it be left out in the cold.
Even though the party’s provincial leadership distributed tickets among their candidates for district and tehsil council seats on Thursday, it has asked them to search for suitable alliances to guarantee more seats.
Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, PML-N’s provincial leadership has assigned the task of finding an appropriate alliance to all its district offices. A committee, comprising PML-N General Secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak and Vice President Amir Muqam, has been tasked to form district-level committees.
“These committees will make alliances and seat-to-seat adjustments with other parties at the district and tehsil level,” said PML-N K-P Information Secretary Nasir Khan Musazai.
Negotiating terms
PML-N’s Peshawar chapter is currently involved in negotiations with Jamaat-e-Islami, insiders added.
A delegation led by PML-N Peshawar president Sattar Khan Khalil visited the JI head office in Peshawar and discussed seat adjustments with JI Peshawar chief Sabir Hussain Awan and Khalid Waqas Chamkani.
“We have distributed 70% of the party’s tickets,” Khalil told The Express Tribune. “The process is likely to be completed on Friday.” Speaking about PML-N’s alliance with JI, Khalil said negotiations are under way and they will make possible seat adjustments before April 25.
Musazai said the party’s position is relatively stronger in two of the four towns in Peshawar district. However, Khalil maintained they have strong candidates in all four towns who will challenge contenders.
All geared up
“PML-N General Secretary Iqbal Zafar Jhagra will visit the provincial capital soon,” he said. “It will then be decided who will withdraw if adjustments have to be made for JI candidates.”
Jhagra has been tasked with the distribution of party tickets in Peshawar, while Muqam, Khattak and PML-N K-P President Pir Sabir Shah are responsible for the southern districts, Malakand Division and Hazara Division, respectively.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Muqam has urged the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to give a chance to PML-N in the same way as they did to Awami National Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Muqam said the party’s local leadership has been asked to form alliances to decide what is best for the party. “There are limited prospects to enter into bigger alliances for the elections as time is running out,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2015.