UPPER DIR: Two arch rivals, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf, have formed an electoral alliance for the upcoming local government polls in Wari tehsil of Upper Dir district.

In the same tehsil, Awami National Party has decided not to contest the elections from the platform of tripartite alliance of opposition parties.

The local leaders of PTI and PML-N have reached an understanding about the set adjustment in Wari tehsil. The local leaders of the both parties expressed satisfaction over the formation of the alliance and vowed to defeat rival parties in the upcoming polls.

The leaders of both parties agreed to finalise the seat adjustment formula within few days. 

Sources said that Malak Fakhr Hayat, the son of PML-N provincial vice president Malak Jehanzeb Khan, played a key role in formation of the electoral alliance between the two arch rivals.

He had parted ways with the PML-N and joined PTI a few months ago. The newly formed alliance is considered a serious challenge to Jamaat-i-Islami in its stronghold Wari.

Also, ANP announced to end its electoral alliance with PPP and JUI-F in Wari tehsil. The decision was announced by ANP district president Raja Ameer Zaman and tehsil general secretary Farooq Naz Khan at a press conference in Wari.

Mr Zaman alleged that PPP leader Najmudin Din Khan, also provincial general secretary of the tripartite alliance, had highjacked the alliance and forced them to make such disappointing decision.

“Najamudin Khan has highjacked the alliance and violated the power by giving more tickets to his party’s candidates instead of following the formula,” he said.

ANP provincial joint secretary and former district president Naveed Anjum Khan told Dawn that despite parting ways with their allied parties in Wari tehsil, ANP was still part of the alliance in the remaining three tehsils of the district including Dir, Barawal and Kalkot.

The decision, he said, would not affect the alliance in Upper Dir. He claimed that ANP was in a strong position to defeat Jamaat-i-Islami in the local government elections.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2015

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