PESHAWAR, March 7: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday summoned all votes cast in the polls of Lower Dir’s district nazim. The bench comprising Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan and Justice Qaim Jan Khan, fixed March 21 as the date for next hearing and directed Deputy Election commissioner Gul Akber to produce the votes cast on that date.

The bench was hearing writ petitions filed by JI-supported Mohammad Rasool and Ahmad Hassan Khan, a former provincial minister and leader of the People’s Party Parliamentarians.

During the polls in October, the returning officer had announced a tie between the two candidates and decided to hold a toss in accordance with the NWFP Local Government Elections Rules, 2005.

Both candidates had challenged some of the votes and requested the court to declare them as elected nazim of the district. Advocate Muzamil Khan appeared for Mohammad Rasool while M. Sardar Khan represented Ahmad Hassan.