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.