District govt: Seven parties form alliance against PTI

New partnership includes PPP, JI, JUI-F, among others

SWABI: Seven political parties have entered into an alliance against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to get an upper hand over the formation of district governments in Swabi.

The new partnership, called the Swabi Democratic Grand Alliance, includes both political and religious parties. The alliance comprises Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party, Qaumi Watan Party, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The announcement was made during a meeting of all seven parties at ANP’s district office on Thursday to discuss the next phase of local government elections. The moot was chaired by ANP Swabi chief Amir Rahman and was attended by representatives of all seven parties. Newly elected district and tehsil councillors were also present at the meeting.

As the dust settles on the local government elections, a new line of governance is likely to be introduced. At the district level, a council headed by the district nazim would serve as an executive body and the deputy commissioner will be under the nazim’s supervision.

All district-level government departments will work under the DC. Each department will have a district officer who will assist the DC.

Departments which fall under the DC’s control include health, education, finance, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, among others.

The nazim will be elected by successful district councillors.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.