SWABI: The revolt of the Jamaat-Islami councillors against their own nazim in the Swabi tehsil council has threatened the seven-party Swabi Democratic Alliance (SDA), which the JI is part of.

Insiders told Dawn here on Tuesday that the SDA, which came into being after the local government elections to counter Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, received a shock when PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and JI, which are part of the alliance led by ANP, joined the PTI to table a no-trust motion against the JI tehsil nazim Wahid Shah and ANP naib nazim Gohar Khan. Swabi Qaumi Mahaz is another component of the alliance.

Voting on the motion is scheduled to be held on Sept 6.

“When PPP, PML-N, JUI-F and JI joined hands with the PTI to de-seat the tehsil nazim and naib nazim how the alliance can remain intact,” said an insider.

When contacted, Tamraz Khan, former district secretary of ANP, told Dawn: “We are striving to keep the alliance intact.”

PML-N district president Iftikhar Ahmad Khan said a party member had extended support to the no-trust move. However, he dispelled the impression that the move would threaten the existence of the alliance.

It is learnt that provincial leaders of PTI belonging to the district have extended support to the leaders of the new front, and if the no-trust move succeeds it would be a big achievement for the ruling party which has already established governments in Chota Lahor and Topi tehsils.

Sources said district nazim Ameer Rehman, who is also the ANP district president, was making hectic efforts to save the alliance.

Despite repeated attempts by this correspondent Mr Rehman did not respond to calls made on his phone to seek his comment on the prevailing situation.

Javid Inqilabi, PPP former district president, said the alliance’s component parties had made some mistakes during last few months due to which JI councillors had revolted against their own tehsil nazim.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2017