Coveted posts: PTI, JUI-F vie for Bannu district, tehsil nazim seats

Leadership of both parties trying to woo successful candidates

BANNU: Rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl are both vying for district and tehsil nazim seats in Bannu district.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, both parties have been planning to form a government at a district and tehsil level in Bannu following last week’s local government elections. Moreover, JUI-F Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani and PTI’s district leadership have been separately trying to woo successful and independent candidates.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak invited district councillors and members who won the elections to the provincial capital. However, they declined invitation.

The race is on

On the other hand, Durrani has taken matters into his own hands and has paid a visit to successful candidates.

According to insiders, a large number of district and tehsil council members have thrown their weight behind JUI-F for the tehsil and district nazim slots. These members include QWP district councillor from Janikhel Altaf Khan, Rehman Wali from Hindi Khel union council and Masoom Wali Khan, a tehsil councillor from Mohammad Khel union council.

Party officials told The Express Tribune it has won the support of 33 district members out of a total of 49 seats. Furthermore, JUI-F has also gained support from 24 out of 43 members of Tehsil-II Bannu district.

Similarly, PTI Bannu President Malik Nasir Khan has also claimed to have a majority for district nazim seat.

“PTI will form a government at district level as well in Tehsil-II,” he said.

On the other hand, independent candidates from Bannu have joined hands with successful candidates from Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and would play a crucial role in electing the district nazim.

However, election results for Domail tehsil have yet to be announced. According to PPP Bannu President Sher Azam Wazir, candidates from his party will win seats in the constituency and form a government in Domail tehsil as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.