PESHAWAR: Political and economic experts here Monday termed the victory of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidates in the recently held elections a strong reflection of people’s confidence in the policies of PTI-led government.

“The people rejected negative politics of opposition and reposed full confidence in the policies of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” PTI leader and Nazim, Bahadar Khan said while talking to APP.

He said PTI won in five seats in the elections for 16 provincial assembly general seats in the ‘merged areas’ which he added showed PTI’s rising popularity among the masses. “The election results have testified that PTI was the most popular political party of the country,” he said. People wanted resolution of their problems instead of hollow slogans of the opposition and has pinned high hopes from PTI, he added.

“The people of erstwhile Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) voted in favour of PTI and have rejected the politics of negativity of opposition,” Khan said, adding that people have backed PTI policies against corruption.

He said the participation of a large number of people from all walks of life in the elections showed that tribal people wanted to strengthen the democratic system in order to resolve their problems.

“In the past, people couldn’t even think of visiting the erstwhile Fata due to militancy,” he said, adding that due to the “supreme sacrifices of our valiant armed forces and people, peace has returned to the area and peaceful holding of the election was a testimony of it”.

“The mandate of PTI should be respected and time should be given to the government for implementation of its agenda for the well-being of the masses,” he said. Retired Information Officer Misal Khan said elections were historic as for the first time tribal people have elected their representatives in a peaceful process that would help address problems of the area besides expediting economic development.

The MPAs elected from merged areas will now raise their problems at the highest forum — the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly — which would enable tribal people to get better health, education and other socioeconomic services at their doorsteps.

He congratulated the KP government, army, district administration, ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) and other departments for successful holding of the elections in the merged areas.

Sumbul Riaz, a senior economist, also termed the PTI’s victory a reflection of masses’ trust in the economic policies of PTI-led government. She said the landslide victory of PTI candidates in Bajaur, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan tribal districts showed that PTI has its strong roots in erstwhile Fata and enjoyed support of the tribesmen.

PTI has won five seats including PK 100 Bajaur-I, PK 101 Bajaur-II, PK 109 Kurram-II, PK 111 North Waziristan and PK 114 South Waziristan, while six seats went to independents, three to JUIF and one each to ANP and Jamat e Islami. Riaz said people were fed up with negative politics of opposition, corruption and wanted a solution to their problems, adding that all inherited problems couldn’t be solved overnight. She said the success of PTI showed it was the most popular political party in the country whereas opposition was restricted to specific districts only. Riaz said the anti-corruption campaign and policies of PTI have found support among voters in the tribal areas. She expressed the hope that opposition would extend full support to the PTI government to complete its tenure and implement its agenda of change.