In the fold: PML-N joins tripartite alliance in Swabi

Leaders say they are in a good position to form district govt

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has joined the ranks of the tripartite alliance of Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl in Swabi. While addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, the district leaders of all four parties said the alliance was in a good position to form the Swabi district government.

ANP Swabi leaders also announced they plan to participate in the June 10 shutter-down strike against alleged mismanagement and rigging in the May 30 local government elections. ANP’s district president Amir Rahman who was present at the press club said all ANP chapters will participate in the strike announced by the party’s central leadership this week.



According to unofficial results, ANP is leading in Swabi with 21 district council seats, JUI-F has eight and PML-N has three, while two independent candidates have also announced their support for the alliance. With PML-N’s addition, the strength of these opposition parties stands at 33 in the district council.

Rahman said they have also been assured by the elected candidates of Qaumi Watan Party and Swabi Qaumi Mahaz that they would also join what is currently a four-party alliance.

“We will wipe out Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan from the district,” said Rahman. He accused both coalition partners of failing to use development funds meant for Swabi, because of which the district’s people rejected them in LG polls.

Agenda

Talking about their agenda for the district, the four-party alliance members said their first priority would be the improvement of education and health facilities in Swabi.

PML-N K-P General Secretary Rahmat Salam Khattak accused the PTI government of mismanagement in the LG polls and said PML-N has decided to join democratic forces in Swabi to continue its struggle for securing the rights of the people.

The original tripartite alliance’s Swabi President Shehryar Khan said, “Our alliance has remained successful as all the parties believe in democracy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2015.