KOHAT: In a major political development, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf here have decided to form an alliance to replace the PML-N tehsil nazim with their joint nominee.

The decision was taken at a meeting held between the councillors of PTI and JUI-F at the hujra of opposition leader Tahir Nabi to respond to the failed attempt by the Afridi brothers to deseat the district nazim, who is from JUI-F.

Tahir Nabi had earlier contested the tehsil nazim elections against Malik Taimoor, the sitting nazim from PML-N. Earlier, consent was given to the formation of alliance with PTI by JUI-F district chief Maulana Abdul Hayee at a party meeting here.

The participants, including Dr Umer Hayat, Pir Adil Shah, Dr Zulfiqar, Javed Noor and others, agreed that after the return of convener of the house from Umra they would show their power and remove the PML-N nazim.

The district has been buzzing with the purchasing of loyalties of the district councillors by former senator Abbas Afridi and his brother MPA Amjid Afridi for the past several days. However, sources said that they had failed to materialise their move.

Councillor Javed Noor who had been participating in the ongoing meetings with the district nazim, Maulana Niaz Mohammad, told this correspondent on phone that a decision had been taken to throw all support behind the incumbent district nazim.

He said that the political activism started when the Afridi brothers who claimed to have got sanctioned Rs200 million for the district council by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his recent visit tried to overthrow the district nazim and instal councillor Babar Azeem Afridi, son of Amjid Afridi, in his place.

MNA Shehryar Afridi was of the view that both PTI and JUI-F could give a befitting response to the PML-N in the tehsil council.

JOURNALISTS’ DEMAND: The Kohat union of journalists has demanded its representation in the community welfare and development organisations.

The union’s president, Faisal Nadeem, speaking at the union’s maiden meeting at Kohat Press Club the other day urged the administration to take at least one journalist each in justice committee, district development committee, price control committee, voters’ education committee, police reconciliatory committee and district coordination committee.

The cabinet also approved to give Rs100,000 grant to any member in case of death of his family member.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2017