February 01, 2008	Friday	Muharram 22, 1429

PESHAWAR, Jan 31: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said on Thursday that elections in Kurram and South Waziristan agencies might be delayed owing to the security situation in the two tribal regions.

“No decision has been taken yet and we are assessing the situation to see if elections could be held there,” he told a group of senior journalists at the Governor’s House. Kurram saw one of its worst sectarian violence last month and the military has launched an operation against Baitullah Mehsud and his followers in the Mehsud part of S. Waziristan.

Mr Ghani said the government was considering whether it would be possible to hold elections in parts of Swat owing to the security situation in the district.

The situation in Swat has largely been brought under control but some strongholds of militants, including the area of Beochar, remain to be cleared.—Bureau