SWABI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders are considering seat adjustment with Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal for the upcoming general elections in Swabi district to give tough time to arch-rival Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Dawn learnt on Monday.

PML-N insiders said the party’s provincial leaders had authorised the district leadership to go ahead with the seat adjustment with the MMA with a view to defeating PTI contestants in the polls.

They said leaders of the two parties had already held a few rounds of talks and the final decision was expected after MMA settled its internal differences.

The main contesting constituencies of PML-N and PTI would be PK-43, PK-44, PK-46 and PK-47. The Awami National Party has also fielded potential candidates on these seats.

The PML-N, which had won only from then PK-36, Swabi-VI, in 2013 elections, now banks on Babar Saleem, former MNA and chairman of Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, who recently joined the league and would contest from PK-44, Swabi-II.

Similarly, cigarette manufacturing family of Shiraz Akram Bacha and Jehan Bahadar Khan, former adviser to the chief minister, have also quit the PTI and joined the PML-N, further brightening the chances of the league.

Ijaz Akram Bacha, cousin of Shiraz Bacha, would contest elections from PK-47, Swabi-V, with the hope to give tough time to Tarakai House leaders.

The PML-N ticket for NA-19, Swabi-II, would b be awarded to Imran Khan, late Zakir Khan’s son of Karnal Sher Kili, with the party expecting support from MMA to help defeat former provincial minister Shahram Khan Tarakai.

Observers said that if MMA and PML-N struck seat adjustment in NA-19, it would help them defeat the Tarakai House leaders for the first time.

Sources in the party said it was the first time that Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, former PML-N district president, and his brother Liaqat Ahmad Khan, former president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, did not submitnomination papers to contest the elections over unknown reasons.

“The silence of Iftikhar Ahmad and Liaqat Ahmad shows that they are not happy with the leadership, that’s why they have decided to stay on the sidelines,” said a leader.

SUSPECTS ARRESTED: The police arrested 45 suspected people from Gadoon Amazai and Topi regions on Monday. The pre-dawn raids were led by Topi DSP Haidar Khan.

Officials said the entire exercise was aimed to ensure provision of security and discouraging the anti-state elements. The Gadoon Amazai mountainous region has been under a tight watch of police and they have warned that militants would not be allowed to use the area as their sanctuary.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2018