March 03, 2008	Monday	Safar 24, 1429

UPPER DIR, March 2: Upper Dir is the only district in the NWFP where by-elections would be held in two constituencies.

Election on PF-92 Upper Dir-II was postponed due to the tragic death of Fareed Khan, a candidate, on February 8, while another seat, possibly provincial assembly, would be vacated by the Pakistan People’s Party’s provincial general secretary, Najamuddin Khan, as he was one of the 15 politicians in the country who won election on more than one constituencies.

Though Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) had decided to boycott the February 18 elections, Fareed Khan revolted against the party decision and not only opted to contest election himself but also fielded his panel on one National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats.

His party asked him to withdraw from the contest in line with the party decision, but he remained defiant till the end. The JI local chapter expelled him along with three other workers, including former MPA Hayat Khan, who retained his seat in the February 18 elections, on December 25, 2007.

Fareed was vigorously opposed by his party, but even then he was the hot favourite for winning the PF-92 poll. After his death, by-election would be held on the constituency. Najmuddin Khan secured victory on the sole National Assembly seat, NA-33 Upper Dir-cum-Lower Dir besides winning election on the provincial assembly seat, PF-91 Upper Dir-I. He will have to leave one of the two seats as required by the law.

After clinching majority in the centre, the PPP leadership has been pushing him to retain the National Assembly seat and to vacate the NWFP assembly seat. Also, the party would be able to retain the PF-91 seat in the by-election but it may lose the NA-33, if vacated. Being a popular leader and general secretary of the party’s NWFP chapter, he is likely to be offered a portfolio in the federal cabinet, a demand being made by his electorate.

According to rules, election on PF-92 should be held within 60 days of the death of the candidate. Regarding vacation of seat, an official of the local election commission office said if Najmuddin took oath of National Assembly seat, the provincial assembly seat would automatically fell vacant, and if he chose to take oath as an MPA, the National Assembly seat would be deemed vacant. To the question as to when by-election on the seat to be vacated would be held, he said it would be decided by the Election Commission.