MARDAN Dec 16: Residents of 12 villages have announced that they will neither cast votes nor allow polling stations in their areas in protest against the non-provision of natural gas to their areas.

Some 500 elders of Karimdad Killey, Bocheyabad, Aurangabad, Rahimabad, Mistri Banda, Horabad, Malo Banda, Mirwas killey, Javedabad, Mansababad and Charsdda road assembled here on Sunday and said that they would boycott the polls.

Askar Khan, who led the protesters on the Charsdda road, criticised the provincial president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Amir Muqam. He said Mr Muqam had announced Rs10 million at Manga village for development works, particularly provision of gas, but not a single penny of the amount was released in the past one year to carryout the uplift work.