ISLAMABAD: The ruling PTI has vowed to sweep the second phase of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) local body elections.
Addressing a press conference, PTI’s ministers Farrukh Habib and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said that the PTI’s position had been strengthened after Monday’s re-polling in the first phase of local government elections in K-P.
The prime minister has assigned the task to PTI K-P chapter President Prevez Khattak to work hard for the victory of party’s candidates in the second phase of local body polls, added Farrukh Habib.
Speaking on the occasion, Khattak said that propaganda was spread against the PTI that it had been ‘wiped out’ after facing setback in the first phase of K-P LG polls.
“In two phases, 18 tehsils, four independent candidates have joined PTI so far, JUI-F has won 23 seats but PTI is leading in terms of votes whereas PML-N has only secured two or three seats,” he added.
Khattak admitted that the PTI workers did not put much effort to win the first phase of K-P LG polls, saying that the local body elections were way more complicated than other elections.
He also expressed confidence that under his leadership the PTI will secure majority in the upcoming LG polls.
Taking a jibe at Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Farrukh said the he had lost popularity among the public after his party faced a humiliating defeat in the Tehsil Mayor elections of Dera Ismail Khan and other districts of Southern KP.
He said the government would not let anyone to escape accountability process and those who had looted the national wealth ruthlessly would be held accountable.
“People like Fazl will no more come to power again and instead will be convicted for their wrongdoings,” he added.
To a query, Farrukh said the government had put the economy on right direction under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Farrukh reiterated that the PTI-led government would complete its constitutional term with the support of its coalition partners.
“There is no threat to Prime Minister Imran Khan from the opposition’s no-confidence move and in fact he will again form the government after winning the next general elections,” he said.
His statement comes as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is engaged in a courtship of the ruling party’s allies in an effort to forge a unified strategy on sending the government packing.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that he had “full faith” in Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid (PML-Q) after Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi advised the premier to firmly quieten the ‘panic’ in his party.
The statement of water minister, who is also the son of Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, delivered a potentially fatal blow to the opposition hopes of ousting the prime minister through a no-trust motion.
