CHARSADDA: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami have developed an understanding with their rival and former coalition partner Qaumi Watan Party to form coalition district government in Charsadda and its three tehsils, giving tough time to Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl.

As the second phases of local government elections to form district and tehsil governments will start after announcement of official results on June 7, the major political parties are making contacts with like-minded parties, groups and independents to install their own governments.

ANP, which clinched 14 district council seats and its election partner JUI-F got seven seats in Charsadda, would need support of four independents to make government in the native district of ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan.

However, the alliance of PTI, JI and QWP will put ANP in trouble. PTI won 10 district council seats, QWP got nine and JI clinched three seats. Four seats were won by independent candidates.

The local leaders of PTI, QWP and JI met here on Wednesday and agreed to form a coalition government of the three parties in the district as well as its three tesils -- Charsadda, Tangi and Shabqadar.

They said that the decision was taken in best interest of the people of Charsadda. The coalition governments of the three parties would make joint efforts for prosperity and progress of the people of Charsadda, they said. They added that a committee would be formed to devise framework for the coalition government.

A local leader of JI told Dawn that leaders of PTI, QWP and JI had held thorough meetings in Al-Markaz-i-Islami Charsadda and residence of Tariq Azam Khan in Utmanzai and reached an understanding to form coalition local government in Charsadda.

The meeting was attended by JI district chief Misbahullah, general secretary Javed Khan, former MPA Haji Mohammad Arshad Khan, Mohammad Riaz Khan, Pir Masood Jna and Mohammad Sajjad; PTI’s Fazal Mohammad Khan, MPA Arif Khan Ahmedzai, Zahoor Ahmed Khan, Abid Khan, retired Major Tariq Azam Khan, MPA Arshad Khan Umarzai, MPA Khalid Khan Mohmand and Amin Bacha.

They pledged that their coalition government would serve the masses to make Chasradda a model district Rivals join hands against ANP in Charsadda of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Regaining hold in its native district, the Asfandyar Wali-led ANP clinched majority of seats in Charsadda district and tehsil council. It won 14 seats, followed by PTI with 10 seats and QWP with nine seats.

It may be recalled that polling in Rashakai union council was postponed by the Election Commission of Pakistan when election symbols of some candidates were found absent from the ballot papers while counting in Shabqadar was withheld after brawl and rigging allegation between rival candidates.

PROTEST: The activists of JUI-F blocked road by setting tyres on fire at Farooq Azam Chowk to protest the arrest of their party district general secretary Mufti Gohar Ali and ‘rigging’ of the local government elections.

They brought a protest rally and after passing through various road of Charsadda Bazaar reached Farooq Azam Chowk where they burn tyres to block the road.

Addressing the protesters, JUI-F district chief Maulana Mohammad Hasham Khan, Haji Abdur Rashid, Hakeem Hazrat Ali, Attaullah Khan, Mufti Tahirullah, Maulana Abdul Rauf Shakir and others alleged that Mufti Gohar Ali was arrested on polling day and shifted to unknown place.

They alleged that PTI government miserably failed to fulfil its promise of bringing ‘change’. They demanded early release of Mufti Gohar.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play