November 9, 2002	Saturday	Ramazan 3,1423

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KOHAT, Nov 8: The provincial government has failed to serve show-cause notices on some 120 Union Nazims in five districts for violating the ban on taking part in the campaigns for different candidates during the general elections, it is learnt on Friday.

In the Kohat district, 25 union Nazims were issued the notices and in the Karak district such notices were issued to 20 Nazims. Similarly, 10 Nazims in Lakki Marwat, 30 in Bannu, 15 in Dera Ismail Khan and 20 Nazims in the Hangu district have been required through the notices to show cause for violating the ban. These notices are lying with the district coordination officers and other officials. Since these officials work under the Nazims, they are finding it hard to serve the notices on them.

The government had issued strict instructions to the union council members not to take part in the campaigns of any candidate. It had warned that those violating the ban would be liable to punishment under the local government laws.

During the electioneering, intelligence agencies were asked to keep an eye on the activities of the union council members and submit reports about violations.

In the light of these reports, the government decided to take action against 120 Nazims, but so far it has failed to serve notices on them.

The Nazim of Kohat Urban-II union council, Dr Matiullah Shah, told this correspondent: “The issue came under discussion at a meeting with the District Nazim, Malik Asad. Some of the Nazims, who had openly supported election candidates, have already prepared replies to be submitted once they receive the notices”.

The election commission office in Kohat admitted that a majority of the union council Nazims and in some cases the district Nazims had taken part in the election campaigns of their favourite candidates.

He explained that the governor or the chief secretary was the competent authority to take action against such Nazims. “But, who can dare to serve a notice on the brother of the NWFP governor for violating the ban,” the official, requesting anonymity, remarked.