November 27, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 16, 1428

PESHAWAR, Nov 26: The Election Commission on Monday extended the date for filing nomination papers in the restive districts of Hangu, Swat and Shangla till Dec 1 and in the tribal agencies of Kurram and North Waziristan till Dec 6.

According to a notification issued by the EC, scrutiny of nomination papers will take place in Hangu from Dec 3 to 5 and in the two agencies on Dec 7 and 8.

The seven affected National Assembly constituencies include two each in Swat and Kurram Agency and one each in Shangla, Hangu and North Waziristan.

There are seven provincial assembly seats in Swat and two each in Shangla and Hangu.

The commission took the decision on the basis of reports from the NWFP home department and the political agents of Kurram and North Waziristan agencies who are also the district returning officers.

In Swat and Shangla, the returning officers have not been able to do their job because of clashes between security forces and militants.

For a last couple of days most parts of Swat have been under curfew.

Similarly, normality is yet to return to the Kurram Agency after recent sectarian clashes and most parts of the agency have been placed under curfew.

However, elections will be held in these areas on Jan 8.