SWABI: The defeat of the ruling parties in the May 30 local government election, also termed by provincial senior minister Shahram Khan Tarakai massively rigged, has created a serious rift among them, mainly between the AJIP and PTI.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan and Jamaat-i-Islami leaders had claimed before the elections that they would form the district government in Swabi, but the election results had shattered their dreams.

In contrast, there was a complete understanding among the anti-ruling parties’ alliance, including the Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, as they cooperated with each other during the election and were now poised to form the coalition government in the district and Chota Lahor and Swabi tehsils.

Soon after the election, the ruling parties started pointing accusing fingers at each other. “The election results have made it clear that the AJIP leaders and workers backed my arch-rival, Bilawal Khan, who won the election,” said retired Maj Fida Hussain, who contested the election from Maneri Payan union council. Mr Hussian recently quit PPP district general secretary slot and had joined PTI.

Prominent leaders of the AJIP, PTI and JI have been defeated in the election, and these parties may not be in a position even to play the role of a strong opposition in the district government. PTI could only form government in Topi tehsil.

Soon after the election, PTI district president Anwar Haqdad Khan had told this correspondent that AJIP had allegedly rigged elections in Turlandi union council. Meanwhile, referring to Shahram Khan Tarakai’s views that election were massively rigged in the district, ANP district president Ameer Rehman said here on Wednesday that all the arrangements were made by the government and they just contested the election.

“It was Tarakai family and AJIP leaders who indulged in rigging, but despite that they failed to defeat the ANP candidates,” Mr Rehman told Dawn. He said that the senior minister had tried to hide incompetence of the provincial government. He said that the coalition government should resign and fresh polls should be announced in the province.

LG FORMATION: As many as 13 district councillors-elect, who belong to different political parties but were elected as independent candidates in May 30 elections, have planned to hold a meeting on Thursday (today) and adopt a joint line of action, sources said.

The independent candidates have to join a political party within three days of the declaration of the official result, set for June 7. “We are meeting at an undisclosed location tomorrow (Thursday) and after that we would decide where we go. Yes, I belong to a political party, but I contested the election as an independent candidate and now have full liberty to go anywhere,” said one of those invited to the meeting for discussion.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2015

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