MANSEHRA: Pakistan Peoples Party which couldn’t field even a single candidate under its own party symbol of ‘arrow’ in the local government elections here has joined hands with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to form the district government after eight of its members who had won as independent candidates renewed their support to party.

“Mansehra is the only district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where PPP could win eight wards and now it is going to be a coalition partner of PTI in the district government,” Shujah Salim Khan, the divisional president of PPP in Hazara, told mediapersons here on Saturday.

The PPP had fielded its own party office-bearers and workers in independent capacity in the LG elections and secured eight district council seats. The district president of PPP, Malik Farooq, had won as independent candidate from Lassan Thakral, and district senior vice-president Shahid Rafique from Tarangri Sabir Shah ward.

Others who won independently and announced continued support to the PPP in a function held here include Afsar Khan Niazi who won from Behali ward, Shehryar Khan who won from City No 1 ward, Dr Wazir from Shungli Bandi, Mohammad Akram from Shanaya ward, Mohammad Nadeem from Thalhatta ward, and Haji Bashir who won from Sandasir ward.

“According to our agreement, the district nazim slot would go to PTI and that of the naib nazim to PPP, and we are going to install a coalition government in the district with 33 councillors,” said the divisional president. The total strength of the house is 59.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2015

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