PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party and Qaumi Watan Party have asked their respective organisations in various districts to step up efforts for success of the candidates in the next phase of the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The QWP has informed its office-bearers that the aspirants for the party tickets should submit their applications with the respective district chairmen and district parliamentary boards by January 16.

The decision was taken at a meeting of QWP chaired by its provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao, according to a statement issued here on Friday.

The meeting decided to make proper arrangements for the second phase of the local government elections to be held in the remaining 18 districts of the province.

The participants took stock of the party’s preparedness and the arrangements for the next round of the local body polls, and said the QWP would field candidates in all the districts.

On the occasion, Sikandar Sherpao criticised the rulers for failing to control inflation. He demanded of the government to stop recovering the fuel price adjustment levy from the electricity consumers, saying it was sheer injustice with the poor people.

Sikandar Sherpao said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government lacked the ability to revive the economy and steer the country out of the prevailing challenges.

“The slogan of change was a ploy to reach the corridors of power. This government has been a total failure,” he said.

The QWP provincial chief urged the people to help the opposition parties send the PTI government packing.

He claimed that his party always stood by the people and it would spare no effort to serve them.

Similarly, the PPP has also sought applications from its activists for contesting the local government elections in their respective districts.

According to a statement issued on Friday, the candidates have been asked to submit a bank draft of Rs15,000 with each application.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2022