MANSEHRA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Wednesday fielded a nephew of Senator Azam Khan Swati as its candidate for the post of district nazim.

During a PTI meeting at the New Circuit House with Azam Khan Swati in the chair, participants agreed to the name of Shaharyar Khan Swati, who is son of former MNA Laiq Mohammad Khan, as candidate for the slot of district nazim and Shaharyar Khan for that of deputy nazim.

They also named Kashif Khan, the brother of former oppositional leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahzada Gustasib Khan, candidate for the office of tehsil nazim in Mansehra and Nadar Khan for that of deputy nazim.

Speaking on the occasion, Azam Swati said his party was going to form district and tehsil governments in Mansehra.

He said his party had made a comprehensive strategy before the May 30 local government elections, which paved the way for the success of their party and supported candidates in district and tehsil wards.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which is also backed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, has claimed it will form district government in Mansehra.

“We are going to install our government not only in the district but also in two tehsils of Mansehra,” PML-N district president Zafar Mehmood told reporters here on Wednesday.

Earlier, the party held a consultative meeting here with federal minster for religious affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousaf.

JUI-F district chief Syed Hidaitullah Shah also attended the meeting.

Shah announced support of his party’s two councilors for PML-N in the meeting which according to PML-N district president was attended by 30 councilors-elect.

However, participants failed to name a unanimous contender for the office of district nazim.

Former provincial minister Akhtar Hussain Shah and Mehmood Khan are in the running for the slot.

“I have also been elected councilor on reserved seat of peasant but the party’s high command will decide about contender for the office of district nazim. All will accept it wholeheartedly,” he said.

The PML-N district president said his party had majority in Mansehra and Balakot tehsils with the support of independents to form governments there.

JUI-F EXPELS EX-LAWMAKER: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on Wednesday expelled its former MNA, Laiq Mohammad Khan, for supporting Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidates in the ay 30 local body elections in the province.

“We have expelled Laiq Khan from the party as he betrayed us and supported PTI candidates in local government elections in the district,” former JUI-F Senator and district chief Hidayatullah Shah told reporters.

Laiq Mohammad Khan, who is brother of former PTI provincial president Azam Khan Swati and father of Shaharyar Khan, named as candidate for the office of district nazim by PTI, was once elected MNA on JUI-F ticket.

Hidayatullah Shah said Laiq Khan first betrayed JUI-F by announcing to join his son and PTI candidate, Shaharyar Khan, before the local government elections and later supported PTI contenders in the district and tehsil.

He said the party had also stopped Laiq Mohammad from using its name.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015

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