Peshawar - Activities of political parties are gaining momentum in the provincial capital as the local government elections are drawing near. 

While the elections are to be held in September, various political parties have started preparations for it by focussing on Peshawar where corner meetings are being held.

Awami National Party has also started activities. During the death anniversary ceremony of Awami National Party’s Haroon Bilour (late), the party’s senior vice president Amir Haider Hoti hinted at starting jirga meetings in various parts of Peshawar for the party reorganisation.

Jamaat-e-Islami, under Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Senator Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman have also been working to make the parties more active in Peshawar. PPP has also started activities in Peshawar. On the direction of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a special campaign has been announced in Peshawar district to reunite party activists.

Qaumi Watan Party has inaugurated an office in the heart of the city, Rampura Gate locality, the other day. Qaumi Watan Party has decided to use the city office as a centre of party activities.

Compared to other parties, PML-N activities are not being seen in Peshawar. However, it is expected that after Eid-ul-Azha, they might also being programmes.

It merits a mention here that the ruling PTI faces a challenge of appeasing the annoyed workers before the forthcoming local body elections and also it will have to curb the forward bloc within the party for victory in the electoral race. Several workers of the ruling PTI are among those who have filed appeals against the recent delimitation of constituencies. 

Former nazim of Peshawar district and a PTI leader, Muhammad Asim Khan, said that his village Bahadur Kalay had also been divided under the delimitation, although the village had a historical status. He said the local political leaders and residents were confused over it. However, he said people have filed appeals in this respect. 

The PTI will be the first party to conduct local government elections for a second time in province’s history and the party will try its utmost to remain winner in the process at all cost.