SWABI: After the July 25 general elections, Awami National Party and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf are set to lock horns again, but this time over the slot of district nazim as election for the seat is scheduled to be held on Monday (Aug 6).

The seat had fallen vacant in June after ANP’s district nazim Ameer Rehman tendered resignation to contest election from PK-47, Swabi-V. In the post-election scenario, it would be the first election contest between the two arch-rival parties and both would try to win the coveted slot of nazim.

The local government election in 2015 was won by ANP and party district president Ameer Rehman was elected district nazim. However, the July 25 election was completely swept by PTI in the district, the first time that one political party had achieved thumping victory from all constituencies of the district.

According to the schedule, nomination papers would be filed on Monday and the election of district nazim would also be held on the same day.

Sources said that Hassan Khan of ANP was one of the strong candidates for the district nazim slot. “We really feel proud to have district nazim from our party. In fact, we had defeated Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the last local government elections,” said Ameer Rehman who remained district nazim till June.

In the local government elections held in May 2015, ANP had won majority union council seats and was followed by JUI-F. It has been learnt that at present the 84-strong district assembly has 78 members as Mr Ameer, Waris Khan, Askar advocate and Zainab Bibi had tendered resignations, while Satar Ali Shah and Sabaz Ali Khan had passed away.

Soon after the elections, Swabi Democratic Alliance, including ANP, JUI-F, PML-N, QWP, PPP, JI and Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, was formed to give tough time to Tarakai House leaders and PTI. However, SDA disappeared after a year when interests of the elected local government representatives started to clash. When contacted, Mr Hassan said: “It is true that SDA is no longer intact, but we remained in contact with the district assembly members.”

However, sources in ANP said that they could form the government with the help of JUI-F as the alliance with it was still intact. Asar Khan, JUI-F leader, is district nazib nazim.

Asked about the nazim election, Azizullah Khan, PTI opposition leader in the district assembly, showed optimism that they would get the support of parties who had left the SDA. It has been learnt that MNA-elect Asad Qaiser was also taking great interest in giving tough time to ANP in the district nazim election.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2018