March 9, 2003	Sunday	Muharram 5, 1424

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SWABI, March 8: A three-member committee of the Swabi Tehsil Council has held talks with the district coordination officer and treasury benches on Saturday, as the hunger strike entered the fourth day.

Sources said that the committee comprising Rakham Akbar, Raheel Ahmed and Tajbar Khan held talks at the DCO office where some key members of the Tehsil government were also present.

Official sources said that both the local administration and tehsil government had urged the hunger strikers to give up the protest.

The strike call was given for three days, but later it was announced that protest would continue till their demands were fulfilled.

The opposition members, who went on hunger strike, were demanding fresh election for the office of the Tehsil Council convener as the Naib Nazim had joined the UAE Airforce, equitable share in the development funds and the constitution of a committee to probe the kickbacks alleged in the purchase of various goods by the Tehsil government.

The Tehsil government officials said that Mohammed Israr had already been given the duties of the convener and the Naib Nazim, Ali Yar Khan, was on leave and would join his duties after three months.

However, the protestors said that Mr Khan no longer remained the Naib Nazim and the council should be asked to elect a new convener.