SWABI: Pakistan Peoples Party eagerly wants to enter into seat adjustment or an electoral alliance with Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the two National Assembly and five provincial assembly constituencies of the district for the general election scheduled to be held on July 25.

Sources said on Wednesday that PPP’s priority was to enter into an alliance with MMA and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazriati (JUI-N), headed by Maulana Khalil Ahmad of Kotha village.

In 2013 election, the PPP leadership faced a shock when its candidate for then PK-32, Swabi-II, Abid Hussain had withdrawn at the eleventh hour in favour of Shahram Tarakai. A few weeks ago former ANP MPA Sikandar Irfan, who was enraged by award of tickets, met former president Asif Zardari in Islamabad and joined PPP.

When contacted, Gohar Inqilabi, deputy provincial information secretary of PPP, said that the July 25 elections would be different because the voters had already tested PML-N, ANP, PTI and religious parties and now it was their turn.

Javid Inqilabi, former district president of the party, said that they would contest election from all seven constituencies of the district.

The expected candidates of the party for different constituencies include Ishfaq Khan and Mohammad Aqeel from PK-43, Swabi-I, Tahir Mohammad from PK-44, Swabi-II, Sikandar Irfan PK-45, Swabi-III, Ibn-e-Ali Khan and Akhunzada Asad Ali PK-46, Swabi-IV, and Malik Jan Akbar from PK-47, Swabi-V.

Gohar Inqilabi is expected to contest the elections from NA-18, Swabi-I, and Mohammad Naeem from NA-19, Swabi-II.

However, insiders said that the PPP leadership wanted to enter into seat adjustment with MMA or JUI-N. “We have in mind to win two seats instead of losing all,” said a local PPP leader. The party leaders said that without seat adjustment or electoral alliance it might be difficult for them to emerge victorious.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018