Tripartite alliance decides to boycott nazims election today

PESHAWAR: The tripartite alliance of Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday announced boycott of the election for the district and three town nazims of the provincial capital being held today.
Speaking at a news conference here, former Senator and JUI-F leader Ghulam Ali said the alliance had decided not to contest elections for district nazim and nazims of three towns of Peshawar as their representatives had got no intimation about the announcement of election schedule and other procedures.
He was flanked by JUI-F Peshawar chapter head Khairul Bashar, ANP’s Sartaj Khan and other representatives of the tripartite alliance.
The JUI-F leader said the provincial government was conducting elections of district and town nazims without the 24-hour prior notice. He said the government announced schedule of submission of nomination papers for intending candidates in haste as the elections were being held today.
He alleged that it was pre-poll rigging and said it wasn’t acceptable to them. “We will move the court against these elections,” Ghulam Ali said.
He also criticised the PTI-led provincial government for introducing the Local Government Act 2015 and termed it worse than martial law.
He stressed there was a dire need to make legislation that was applicable and realistic for the local governments. He said the procedure adopted by PTI government was illegal and illogical.
Ghulam Ali said leaders of their alliance considered the recent elections of local government as the worst in the history of Peshawar.
He asserted that no intimation had been made to the successful candidates about oath-taking and elections of district and town nazims.
Ghulam Ali alleged that holding of nazims elections on Sunday was a big question mark on the transparency of the process.
He said the elected representatives of local governments took oath from additional district commissioner (ADC) in presence of district returning officer (DRO), Riaz Mahsud and argued that it was unconstitutional.
He maintained that the PTI failed to show its strength through the local government elections in the province despite campaigning in a number of districts, including Mardan, Swabi, Lakki Marwat and Bannu.