SWABI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), partners in the ruling coalition of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have entered an electoral alliance in Swabi district for the upcoming local government elections.

However, a formal decision in this respect will be made later.

The decision in this respect was made during a meeting between leaders of the two parties here the other day.

During the meeting, participants discussed all aspects of the next local government elections, including constituencies, strong and weak areas, baradri factor, possibility of making alliance with other political parties and groups, and campaigning.

The PTI team was led by party district president Anwar Haq Dad and that of JI by party district chief Saeedzada Yousufzai.

Analysts said they’re surprised to see Swabi-based Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan, a partner in the PTI government, not invited for electoral alliance.

A PTI leader said neither his party and JI contacted AJIP for electoral alliance nor did the latter showed interest for the purpose.

He said PTI and JI could comfortably win the local body elections as an alliance.

The two parties recently opposed the AJIP nominee for the slot of the district Zakat committee chairman and fielded a joint candidate Amjid Bacha.

There is a chance that AJIP will field own candidate for the district nazim’s election.

During the last elections, AJIP defeated all other parties, including Awami National Party, which was previously considered every strong in Swabi.

Analysts said it might be difficult for AJIP to accommodate PTI and JI in the district during the local body elections as it would have to maintain strong position in the district to prevent its all political weight in the government.

When contacted, PTI leader Anwar Haq Dada said his party and JI had finalised the details of the electoral alliance in the district for local body elections.

He said PTI would support JI where the latter had strong position, while JI would support PTI in the areas where its position was strong.

“In case the position of both parties is weak in a constituency, then we’ll go for a seat adjustment with the third party or group,” he said.

JI leaders told Dawn that they’re hopeful that the their party’s alliance with PTI would produce good results in the local government polls.