Take two: Local government formations in conclusive stage

PESHAWAR:

The people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have given their verdict. Local government councillors have been voted in and re-polls have also been sorted out.

The final stage of the state’s lowest tier’s establishment is waiting on the election of nazims and naib nazims across 24 districts and their towns and tehsils.

The new-to-office district and tehsil councillors will take oath on August 29 and elect all district, tehsil nazims and naib nazims within 24 hours. Not a single party has considered a woman worthy enough to run for the district nazim berths. With the announcement of reserved seat results, parties that were earlier making do with corner meetings and huddles have now gone full throttle with their politicking efforts. Most bigwigs, including lawmakers, have already pulled up their socks for the task.

Statistics tabulated by The Express Tribune clearly indicate Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has retained the trust invested in the party by the province’s people during the 2013 general elections. Awami National Party has somewhat fought back and emerged as a force that still has the ability to counter PTI.

With Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Jamaat-e-Islami doing reasonably well in keeping hold of seats in their hometowns, performance of two national heavyweights, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, has raised alarms for both.

Overall, the second largest force that emerged in the LG polls is that of the independents. With negotiations at their peak, their decisions of alignment will prove to be game changers for some and life support for many.

Northern districts

The northern part of the province certainly has a greater influence of Imran Khan as his party has gained a single majority in seven districts up north.

PTI

The party is geared up to form its own district governments in PML-N’s strongholds of Abbottabad and Haripur. While the NA-19, Haripur by-poll result may suggest otherwise, PTI has held tightly onto its lead in the LG setup. Things are no different in Battagram. While the elected MPAs from the district belong to JUI-F and PML-N respectively, PTI’s own nazim will oversee the highs and lows of the district.

PML-N

Meanwhile PML-N is set to form district governments in Mansehra and Shangla. While the surprising alliance of ANP and PTI is trying tooth and nail to pin Nawaz Sharif’s party down in Shangla, numerous local politicians like PML-N’s Amir Muqam, ANP’s Haji Said Farin Khan and former JUI-F senator Rahat Hussain are striving to bring their own men into power. In Swat Valley, PML-N might just do the trick and form the government with help from opposition parties who wish to overturn PTI.

JUI-F

Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party has emerged as the deciding force between PTI and ANP camps in Torghar. Although party leadership is in no mood to bid farewell to ANP, MPA Zarin Gul feels an alliance with PTI will benefit both sides.

ANP

Leading the line of its alliance in Buner, ANP is set to defeat PTI and form a government along with other opposition parties and JI. In Malakand, a similar formation has outperformed PTI.

JI

As per tradition, JI has managed to save face in Sirajul Haq’s hometown of Dir. The party will form district governments with ease in both Upper and Lower Dir. A little help from JUI-F, and the Chitral throne will also be secured by JI.

Southern districts

PTI has managed to do well in the south as well, gaining a single majority in six districts in the south, excluding the provincial capital. However, a case-by-case analysis reveals things are not too smooth for PTI.

PTI

The party is clear to form governments and bring in districts nazims in DI Khan and Nowshera. With help from PPP, it has pitted MNA Dawar Kundi’s brother Mustafa Kundi for the Tank nazim berth.

A similar alliance and outcome has also been witnessed in Kohat. On the other hand, with a difference of one seat only, alliances led by PTI and ANP are vying for the district nazim seats in both Charsadda and Mardan.

ANP leader and former MNA Himayatullah Mayar has been pitted by opposition parties for the Mardan nazim berth whereas PTI - although being helped by some PPP councillors - has yet to come up with its candidate. The party is facing a major setback in Karak as several of its councillors have decided to throw weight behind JUI-F. PTI high command has already initiated disciplinary action in this regard.

JUI-F

Opposition parties on the flipside haven’t done badly either. JUI-F is set to bring in its district nazim in Lakki Marwat, despite facing strong opposition in the form of a PPP, PML-N, PTI, JI, JUI-S and PML-Q grand alliance led by Saifullah brothers. JUI-F is also eyeing the throne in Bannu.

ANP

Its ally, ANP, has already pitted Amir Rehman as the Swabi nazim candidate, thanks to support from other parties. On the other hand, there is little to rejoice for Asfandyar’s men in Hangu as numerous of its councillor-elects are weighing prospects of helping out PTI against JUI-F.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2015.