SWABI: The political parties have intensified efforts to form district government and four tehsil governments in Swabi.In the 56-strong district council, ANP has the majority with 24 seats followed by PTI with 10 seats and JUI-F eight. The rest are held by other parties.

Ironically, the AJIP, which had a major share in the previous district government, is out of the picture completely.

Insiders say the ANP, which is in a position to form the district government, is a bit uneasy as all likeminded parties are asking for much more what they deserve in return for support.

When contacted, the possible ANP nominee for district nazim’s office, Ameer Rehman, claimed his party’s electoral alliance with JUI-F was intact and therefore, it would easily install a coalition government in the district.

“After the election of our nominees on seats reserved for women, youths, minorities and peasants, our strength in the district council will reach 85,” he said.

Insiders claim ANP has offered the naib nazim office to JUI-F but the offer hasn’t sat right with the latter.

Also, JUI-F leaders want the ANP support for it to form tehsil government in Chota Lahor.

There are reports that Qaumi Watan Party with three seats in the district council, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz two each and Jamaat-i-Islami one too intend to bargain with those seeking their support to form government.

When contacted, SQM chairman and MPA Barbar Saleem said his party had demanded Swabi tehsil nazim’s slot for supporting ANP in the district council.

“Our talks are in preliminary stage. We’d a dialogue with JI, too, which had proved very productive. Undoubtedly, there will be a coalition government in Swab i tehsil,” he said.

In the 14-member Swabi tehsil council, JI and SQM have five members, PTI four, ANP two, and PML-N, JUI-F and PPP one each.

In Chota Lahor tehsil, too, a coalition government will come into being.

In the tehsil council, PTI has four members, ANP three members, and JUI-F and PML-N two each.

Talks are underway among like-minded parties for the formation of coalition government with each trying to get more and more privileges.

In Razaar tehsil council, ANP has a clear majority but nomination of candidates for tehsil nazim and naib nazim has turned out to be a difficult task for it.

“We’ll name our men for the top offices of the tehsil government soon,” said ANP district information head Mohammad Rashid.

In Topi, PTI is in a strong position to form own government for having majority in tehsil council. Its former district president, Sohail Yousafzai, is the PTI candidate for the tehsil nazim’s slot.

However, the party has yet to name his deputy.

An insider says PTI will use the deputy nazim’s position to bargain with like-minded parties for support during the formation of district and tehsil governments.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2015

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