SWABI: Awami National Party will soon launch its election campaign here in the district, as it has already awarded tickets for the two National Assembly and six provincial assembly constituencies.

Party insiders told this correspondent on Friday that a meeting of the local leaders and ticket-holders was held here the other day which discussed the campaign strategy and the priority issues.

They said that the ANP candidates’ main rivals would from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, especially in NA-12 Swabi-I, and PK-31 Swabi-I, PK-32 Swabi-II, PK-33 Swabi-III.

In 2013 elections, Tarakai family leaders, including MNA Usman Tarakai, provincial minister Shahram Tarakai and MPA Mohammad Ali Tarakai had won from these constituencies. Babar Saleem had won the election from PK-31 on the ticket of Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan. Later, Shahram’s family decided to merge their party with PTI and Mr Saleem maintained an independent status.

The sources said that local issues being faced by the people would be given priority to lure them. They said that growers had be suffering at the hands of tobacco companies while power royalty and sacrifices given by the people for Tarbela Dam and Ghazi Barotha were other issues of importance.

The ANP leaders said that establishment of Gajju Medical College and University of Swabi was among the achievements, which would be highlighted during the campaign.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party leaders said in a meeting on Friday that they would contest the next elections from all the constituencies of Swabi district.

Javid Iqilabi, former district president, said that the party leadership had discussed the upcoming general elections and also told its activists to remain ready for launching the election campaign soon. He later told this scribe that they could not rule out alliance and seat adjustment with other political parties in various districts.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2017