GUJRAT: The local chapters of some mainstream opposition parties such as the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), PML-Q and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) have formed a joint consultative board in Mandi Bahauddin district for seat adjustments in local government elections, which are scheduled to be held in the district in the second phase on Nov 30.

At least four meetings of this consultative body have been held and participated by PPP District President Dewan Shamim Akhtar, PTI’s Falak Sher Ranjha, PML-Q’s Riaz Asghar Warraich and JI’s Saifullah Sahi to discuss modalities of cooperation between local candidates to put up a stiff resistance against the ruling PML-N.

Akhtar, the convener of this committee, told Dawn the local leadership of these parties had agreed on adopting a joint strategy in the polls and decided that they could seek and extend cooperation as per the situation of any rural or urban union council or ward.

He said as per the agreed formula, if a candidate of any of the four parties was being considered strong and a slight support from the others could produce a better result, the other parties would sincerely support him. However, he said, in case of not reaching any conclusion, candidates of all parties could contest, but maximum efforts would be made to field joint candidates.

There are at least 80 rural union councils in Mandi Bahauddin district and three urban towns -- Mandi Bahauddin city, Phalia and Malakwal -- have been declared municipal committees.

Previously in 2001, PPP stalwart Nazar Muhammad Gondal was elected as Mandi Bahauddin district Nazim while PML-Q’s Riaz Asghar Warraich in 2005.

Retired Major Zulfiqar Gondal, a former PPP lawmaker and younger brother of Nazar Gondal, and younger brother of another PPP stalwart Nadeem Afzal Chan have also been in the run for rural union councils of Malakwal tehsil.

Mandi Bahauddin once a PPP stronghold which was now in a complete grip of PML-N that clinched both National Assembly and five Punjab Assembly seats of the district and has fielded a good number of candidates for the upcoming local bodies elections.

However, a joint strategy by the opposition parties could create a bigger challenge for the ruling party as the PPP is making efforts for its revival in local politics and the PML-Q and PTI vying for a better position in the race.

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2015

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