SWABI, Aug 31: The Awami National Party (ANP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) have reached an agreement to jointly contest the district nazim election against the nine-party alliance in the district.

Although the PML-N was part of the Swabi Jamhoori Ittehad (SJI), an anti-ANP grouping, its leaders decided to change their stance towards the party when offered the post of Swabi tehsil nazim.

Circumstances have forced the PML-N to support the ANP camp. The two parties were allies in the previous local government and SJI leaders could only contest with the ANP if they remained in alliance, making the district nazim’s election more interesting and competitive.

The leaders of the ANP and PML-N met at the residence of Haji Rehmanullah and decided that the name of the contesting candidates for the district nazim and Swabi tehsil and Chota Lahor tehsil slots would be announced later. They also said that they would hold another meeting in this connection on Sept 5.

The PPP-S, PPPP, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, PML-Q, JUI-F, JI, JUI-S, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Azad Group of nazims ganged up against the ANP and the PML-N and the alliance was named the Swabi Jamhoori Ittehad (SJI).

The SJI committee comprising Abdul Malik Khan, Saeed Zada, Naeem Khan, Faiz Muhammad, Ghafoor Khan Jadoon, Manfat Khan, Muhammad Jamil and Maulana Khalil Ahmad has failed to nominate candidates for district nazim, Swabi tehsil and Chota tehsil slots in their previous two meetings and a third meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday night.

“Looking at the tactics of the two camps the SJI will further delay its decision,” said an insider.

Meanwhile, a meeting of elected nazims and councillors was held on Wednesday. The SJI leaders urged them to reject all those who had failed to take practical steps to resolve the problems of the people.

They said that although the ANP and PML had dominated district politics for nearly 56 years they had only deceived the people and deprived the district of various facilities.

However, they said the environment has now changed and those who claimed that the district was their stronghold would face defeat in the district nazim’s election.