Local govt polls: Sarwar says PTI district leaders can make adjustments, where needed

Says PTI has formed no electoral alliance with any party

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab organiser Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar addressing a press conference. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Punjab organiser Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar said on Monday that the PTI had not formed an electoral alliance with any political party. He said it had authorised the district leaders to decide if they wanted to make seat adjustment with other political parties.

Sarwar was speaking at a press conference. On Sunday, he had represented the PTI at a meeting of seven opposition political parties. PPP central Punjab president Manzoor Wattoo had announced after the meeting that the seven parties would field joint candidates against the PML-N in the local government elections. Later, PTI Punjab deputy organiser Omar Sarfraz cheema had issued a statement that there was no understanding on seat adjustment between the PTI and the PPP.

At Monday’s press conference, Sarwar also announced the launch of a political development training programme under which 10,000 PTI members would be briefed about Election Day rigging and ways to prevent it.


The PTI Punjab also notified an 83-member advisory council on Monday. The council included PTI national organiser Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Punjab organiser Chaudhary Sarwar, Punjab deputy organisers Sibtain Khan and Umer Sarfraz Cheema, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rasheed, Lahore organiser Shafqat Mahmood, er Shireen Mazari, and MPAs Siddique Khan, Murad Raas, Saadia Sohail, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Ahmad Ali Dareshak.

Sarwar said he was confident that the PTI would sweep local government elections in the province. He said the PTI’s popularity was a cause of concern not just for the PML-N but also for opposition parties. He said he was concerned over the Election Commission of Pakistan’s failure to take notice of use of public funds by the PML-N to fund its campaign.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2015.
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