SWABI: Awami National Party and Jamaat-i-Islam have urged their local party leaders and workers to tighten their belts for launching a full-fledged election campaign in the district after Eidul Azha.

Sources said that ANP district president Ameer Rehman and other leaders had told the workers that the election campaign would be run with complete determination.

The ANP candidates had faced defeat in the last two general elections in the district. Even ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan was defeated by incumbent MNA Usman Khan Tarakai in 2002 elections.

ANP had already sought applications from all those candidates who wanted to contest the 2018 general elections. The last date for submission of applications is August 31, said the party sources.

When contacted, Ameer Rehman said that so far about 15 candidates had submitted their applications for party ticket in Swabi district, but majority of candidates were expected to submit applications after Aug 20.

Sources in JI said that they would run a vigorous campaign to educate people about their policies and enlist their support for next general election.

They said that they had told the local office-bearers to remain ready for the call of the party. They said that party chief Sirajul Haq was expected to visit the district soon.

Meanwhile, members of the district assembly on Thursday criticised officials of the public sector departments for non-cooperation and demanded that they should ensure their participation in the assembly session whenever they were called.

Talking to mediapersons, members of both the treasury and opposition said that in the absence of officials they could not hold proceedings according to the agenda.

They warned that those who failed to attend the assembly session despite invitation would have to face departmental action.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2017