Reasons behind PTI’s defeat in its stronghold Peshawar during KP LG polls

PESHAWAR: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has faced an uncertain situation in its stronghold Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, in the shape of a defeat against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) during local government (LG) elections.

However, there are some grounds realities for the electoral losses of PTI and News360 found reasons behind PTI’s defeat against its rival JUI-F ahead of transitioning powers to the grass-root level promised in the new KP LG system.

Ruling PTI, which is already facing harsh criticism due to rocketing inflation rate, went through a surprise bounce back of rival JUI-F besides being targeted by its own sitting NA lawmakers including Noor Alam Khan and Arbab Amir Ayub who are considered very close to JUI-F affiliated Haji Ghulam Ali and they have business connections with him.

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Haji Ghulam Ali is a renowned business personality of Peshawar who remained a former president of FPCCI, ex-Peshawar nazim, whereas, the current mayoral candidate of JUI-F’s Zubair Ali is his son. Haji Ghulam Ali is also brother-in-law of JUI-F supreme Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

PTI’s MNA Noor Alam Khan and Arbab Amir Ayub had campaigned for Haji Ghulam Ali’s son behind the curtain instead of supporting Rizwan Bangash, sources told News360.

Sources added that a briefing was also given to Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding the developments in Peshawar via a telephone call.

While talking to a private news channel, PTI MNA Noor Alam Khan presented a charge sheet against his own political party and levelled allegations regarding the presence of corrupt elements in the ruling party.

Khan said that he is an elected member but his lands are being illegally seized and transferred via fake identities. He added that he has proof of his allegations. Khan said that he has always supported Prime Minister Imran Khan, however, he has a right to raise his voice for public rights as their representative.

کون کہتا ہے ہماری حکومت میں کرپشن نہیں ہے؟ کہاں پیسہ نہیں لیا جاتا۔ میں ثبوت کے ساتھ بات کررہا ہوں زبانی جمع خرچ نہیں کررہا۔ وزیر اعظم سے درخواست ہے کہ اپنے وزراء کے اثاثے دیکھیں۔ نور عالم خان، ایم این اے تحریک انصاف#ASKKS #GeoNews pic.twitter.com/WHgoHyR0jR

— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) December 20, 2021

The PTI MNA asked PM Imran Khan to scrutinise the assets of all ministers who have now shifted from local cars to expensive vehicles and others have shifted to planes from land cruisers.

He added that it should be answered that how a person who already owns a sugar manages to establish another sugar mill.