14 January 2005	Friday	03 Zilhaj 1425

SWABI, Jan 13: Leaders of political parties on Wednesday rejected the announcement by the government that elections for the local bodies would be held on non-party basis, saying that the government could not exclude political parties from the process.

"None of the political leaders could say that elections would be held on non-party basis. This was also stated by the government earlier, but how the political parties got involved in the process is no secret," said a key figure in the district government.

Meanwhile, representatives of political parties declared on Wednesday that they would contest the upcoming local bodies' elections giving priority to local alliances on the district level.

"It was decided in our meeting on Tuesday that we would give more importance to a local alliance, and anyone who wants to join us is welcome," said Amir Nawaz Khan, district chief of Jamaat-i-Islami.

The meeting, he said, was attended by provincial general-secretary Mushtaq Ahmad, MNA Mohammad Usman and other leaders. He said the party had constituted various committees to receive applications from party workers and leaders for contesting the election.

Haji Rehmanullah of the Awami National Party said: "We have decided to contest the election, and a meeting in this connection is expected to be held after Eid to discuss awarding of tickets."

Sources said there were bright chances of the ANP and the PML-N forming an electoral alliance. Leaders of the two parties had already held meetings and chalked out a strategy for the election, said a source.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazal) sources told Dawn they would also contest the election, but they were not sure about the party entering into an alliance with the Jamaat-i-Islami and other religious parties.