Unlikely allies in Taxila

TAXILA: With the elections to cantonment boards less than 24 hours away, the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) unlikely alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Taxila has raised many eyebrows, as PPP leaders have been seen supporting the campaigns of ruling party candidates in the two wards where elections will be held on April 25.

PPP jiyalas are stunned by the open support that local PPP leaders such as retired Col Kazim Shah, Zaheer Hussain Shah Zildar and PPP Taxila Chapter President Malik Najeebur Rehman are putting behind the two PML-N candidates, Zarrar Awan and advocate Ghulam Dastagir.

Khadim Shah, a PPP worker, told Dawn he – like all other party loyalists – was stunned by the party’s decision to support traditional rivals PML-N, especially candidates that the PPP workers have opposed tooth and nail during the local government and general elections.

“We are bound to follow the leadership’s decision for the sake of maintaining party discipline and are trying to swallow this bitter pill in the interests of the party,”.