Though efforts are underway for formation of government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), no party seems to be in a position to show 50 percent plus strength on a total 124 seats of the provincial legislature.
So far Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) is in a leading position but it appears hard for its leadership to establish its own government. Leaders of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have initiated contacts with leaders of different political parties for formation of a coalition government. In fact, no one from JUI-F, or from other political parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) are willing to enter into a PTI-led coalition. It appears only Jamaat-e-Islami leadership could shake hands with the PTI leadership.
Terrorism, militancy, poor governance, economic disparity and poverty are the main issues ahead for the new government in KP. All political forces and their leadership have a different approach towards resolution of these issues.
For now PML-N is set to establish its government in Center and PTI is making similar claims for KP. In recent past, both PML-N and PTI emerged as each other’s arch rival and it does not seem possible for Imran Khan to resolve long standing issues of KP with a not-so-friendly government in Islamabad.
Relations between PML-N and JUI-F also remained weak during and before the election campaign.
Imran Khan’s solution to issues of militancy and terrorism require Pakistan pulling out from the US-led coalition. He also demands expulsion of foreign troops from Afghanistan and has strongly criticised the use of drones.
Khan’s views therefore, are contrary to strategies and policies of US and its allies who declare KP and adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as “safe heaven for terrorists and militants from all over the world”.
However, it is too soon to predict the strategies and policies of a PTI government in KP but most analysts think Imran Khan would go ahead according to proposals of his party’s MPs. But a majority of the newly elected PTI MPAs are not political workers or politically aware. Building up confidence and understanding, which is essential for settling of such issues, could take time. There are apprehensions of a 2008-like situation whereas MP’s from JUI-F and JI remained at loggerheads on most issues within.
