PESHAWAR, Oct 2: Several district nazims of the NWFP will quit their posts to contest the next general elections from their native provincial and national constituencies, it is learnt.
According to information, nazims of Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Haripur and Peshawar are likely to quit their offices to enter the contest.
The district nazim’s post is considered as the most lucrative office among the three tiers of political structure in the country for which even sitting members of national and provincial assemblies resigned to contest the polls.
But, now this perception is changing with nazims intending to quit their posts and opt for national and provincial assemblies because they consider it will offer them an opportunity to play their role on a comparatively larger scale.
Naseer Mohammad Khan is one of the two incumbent district nazims who have been elected for second term.
Now he is among those intending to contest next general elections from a National Assembly constituency in his native district. The nazim, who recently joined the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) after quitting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, will try to obtain party ticket for NA-7 or NA-8 Charsadda, party sources informed.
In reply to a question as to what had motivated him to change his mind, Mr Khan said that the local bodies system was not working properly.
“This situation is distorting my political career, thus I have decided to contest the next elections from the National Assembly constituency, where I will be in a good position to serve the people,” he said.
He said that he would prefer to contest from NA-8, the native constituency of Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, but the party would take the final decision in this regard.
Shehram Khan Tarakai, who made his electoral debut in 2005 local bodies elections and became Swabi district nazim, also wants to contest the forthcoming general elections either from a national assembly or a provincial constituency.
Mr Tarakai is affiliated to the ruling PML and is likely to be its candidate for NA-12 or PA-32 in the general elections.
He is also dissatisfied with the new local bodies system and believes there are hindrances in the working of this system.
Talking to Dawn, he said that existing local bodies system was disturbed mainly because of unabated interferences by the provincial government.
He said only those district governments could run smoothly, which have backing of the provincial government.
He said that the main reason for his decision to participate in the forthcoming general election for a provincial or national assembly seat was that he too wants to serve his community at the highest forums.
In his view, these are the effective forums for solving public problems than the district government.
Peshawar District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali is also likely to contest the next election from a national or a provincial assembly constituency on the MMA ticket, as he recently obtained the bachelor degree from the University of Peshawar, according to sources.
Likewise, Kohat District Nazim Gohar Mohammad Khan Bangash who has backing of ruling PML-Q also intends to contest the election from a provincial assembly seat.
Sources in the PML said that the party was considering awarding ticket to Haripur District Nazim Yousaf Ayub Khan for the next general election. However, it is not clear yet whether he would personally contest the election or field his brother.
