Pakistan: PPP provincial chief hints at alliance with ANP for LG polls

The Express Tribune

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) might enter into an electoral alliance with other parties in upcoming local government (LG) elections, hinted PPP Provincial President Khanzada Khan. In his first public appearance after taking over as the party’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief, Khanzada addressed party workers on the eve of the PPP’s 46th Foundation Day. Taking a jab at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khanzada said the PPP would contest every seat in the LG polls and hinted it would enter an alliance with other political parties, including the Awami National Party (ANP). Earlier reports stipulated the PPP and PTI had discussed the possibility of the former backing PTI in the K-P government. Back in May the PPP was not ready for an electoral understanding with the ANP for the general elections, however, it is hinting at it now. Khanzada went on to criticise PTI’s protests against Nato supply lines. He termed efforts to close routes passing through K-P “an attempt to hoodwink the masses.” The PPP leader also questioned the authority by which the PTI workers were inspecting vehicles carrying goods to Afghanistan. “Following the attack on the Salala check post in 2011, it was the PPP’s government which took concrete steps to close down Nato supply lines,” said Khanzada. The PTI government has failed to fulfil promises it made to the people, alleged the PPP leader. Speaking about his selection as provincial chief, Khanzada said he did not lobby for the post and the PPP co-chairman had put his trust in a party worker like him. PPP Co-chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also scheduled to address the gathering through a video link, however, technical difficulties resulted in the cancellation of the address. Several PPP officials, including Arbab Alamgir Khan, Women’s Wing President Asma Alamgir Khan, Rahim Dad Khan, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Senator Rubina Khalid, were not present at the occasion. However, former K-P assembly speaker Kiramatullah Chagarmati, Syed Ayub Shah, K-P General Secretary Humayun Khan, Liaqat Shabab and other party leaders were in attendance. Observing foundation day The 46th Foundation Day was also observed in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) on Saturday. Addressing a gathering of party workers in Gilgit Town, Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah said governing G-B is very different from governing other provinces. According to Shah, Punjab’s CM does a better job because he has a well-established system under his command, something that is missing in G-B. He criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s government at the centre, saying inflation had made even basic necessities out of the public’s reach. PPP GB General Secretary Aftab Haider also spoke on the occasion. He said his party had provided jobs to 15,000 unemployed youth in G-B during their four years in the government. PPP’s Foundation Day was also celebrated in Karak district and Malakand Division. A programme was organised at the residence of Karak district joint secretary Sultan Azam Khattak and various leaders were in attendance. Meanwhile, in Malakand Division, PPP leaders gathered at Bathkhela and vowed not to allow anyone to harm the party. with additional input from our correspondents in Malakand and Karak