PESHAWAR - Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz on Mon­day said that performance of Paki­stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not too dismal in the local bodies (LG) elec­tions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the results are still pouring in. Howev­er, he said that strategy would be changed in the second phase of LB poll in the province. 

Talking to media persons, he ex­pressed pleasure over what he re­ferred to as “peaceful conduct of LG polls” to elect members of the new local government in the province. 

While citing the current wave of in­flation, Shibli Faraz said that PTI has learnt a lot from the current local bodies election and the party will be prepared well for the next election. He said the reports of election re­sults were thoroughly reviewed, say­ing that there will be no compromise on discipline. 

Criticising other contesting parties in polls, he said that opposition par­ties have no alternative future plan. He said the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has become successful in some constituencies during LB polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Shib­li deplored violent clashes at some polling stations resulting in loss of five lives in different Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa districts. 

Speaking on the occasion, PTI pro­vincial leader and Khyber Pakh­tunkhwa Minister for Labour Shau­kat Yousafzai also termed price hike and rapid inflation as major reason for the party's poor performance in the LG election. 

Shaukat Yousafzai vowed to reduce inflation in the country. “Prime Min­ister has realised the issue of price hike,” he said. He termed the conduct of polling an achievement of PTI gov­ernment saying that grass root lev­el elections at massive level are un­precedented in history of Pakistan which have been fully participated in by people of province. 

Referring to the incidents of clashes, skirmishes during the course of elec­tion, Shaukat Yousafzai said no more than two or three mishaps took place. He said thanks to God that there is no allegation of corruption levelled against the PTI government. “PTI will win in the next phase of LG elec­tion as the party vote bank has not declined,” the PTI leader said. Mean­while, Opposition parties have a com­bined lead over the ruling PTI in the first phase of local government elec­tions held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the merger of tribal districts, ac­cording to unofficial results. 

The first phase of LG polls on Sun­day, marked by scattered incidents of violence and fatal attacks, claimed five lives and damaged some polling stations. Polling was held in 66 te­hsils of 17 districts of the province after a gap of six years. 

The polling process in three te­hsils Swabi, Bannu and Darra Adam Khel was postponed due to distur­bances, including a suicide blast in Bajaur, abduction of polling staff in Bannu, a clash in Karak and a mob attack on Minister Shibli Faraz’s ve­hicle in Dara Adam Khel on his way back from Kohat.