January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

LANDI KOTAL, Jan 3: Lashkar-i-Islam, a religious outfit, organised a big election rally in Bara on Thursday to provide an opportunity to the candidates to present their manifestoes.

The Bara residents attended the Mandi Kas rally in thousands. Heavily armed Lashkar activists guarded the venue. Personnel of Khasadar and Levies forces were nowhere to be seen.

The local political administration also kept a distance from the Lashkar rally. They did however try to stop media personnel at various check-points from covering the rally. The Lashkar shura threatened to boycott all sorts of official meetings and jirga if journalists were not allowed to cover their rally.

Most of the reporters made it to the venue through different routes.

A few days ago, Lashkar-i-Islam, imposed a strict ban on all sorts of election campaigning in Bara.

The Lashkar amir Mangal Bagh had announced on FM radio that a ban had been imposed to control excessive spending by the candidates as well as to maintain law and order in the area.

The Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency remained a battle-field between Lashkar-i-Islam and its rival group Ansaar-ul-Islam for almost one and a half years, as more than 200 persons from both sides lost their lives.

Recently, a jirga comprising local religious leaders and elders succeeded in brokering a ceasefire between the two groups.

The Thursday rally was addressed by at least 13 of the 23 contestants for NA-46. Every candidate was allowed fifteen minutes to express his views. Later, lunch was served to all the participants of the rally.