MANSEHRA: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf district councillors on Friday unanimously elected Shafahat Ali as the PTI’s candidate for the district nazim slot.

Shafahat Ali, who had earlier contested for the district nazim slot, but lost owing to the floor crossing of four party councillors, secured 12 votes.

Mr Ali was followed by Shahid Rafique, who secured seven votes while Rafique Tanoli and Fida Mohammad Khan secured three votes each.

The elections, which were held at the office of the PTI district organiser Babar Saleem Swati, were also witnessed by local leaders and party workers in large numbers. PPP, an ally of PTI, also gave ascent to the candidacy of Mr Ali.

“We have followed a true democratic norm to elect our contender for the district nazim slot as MML-N district nazim had lost moral and legal right to rule the district after he failed to get the budget approved from the council,” said Baber Saleem Swati.

Sources said following failure of the district nazim to get approved the budget from the council, the PML-N had also contacted PTI for formation of the district government.

“As neither PTI nor PML-N and its allies have simple majority to install the district government, the PML-N has contacted PTI for formation of a coalition government in the larger interest of people,” a PML-N district councillor said on condition of anonymity.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2016