LANDI KOTAL, June 5: Independent candidate and former senator Nasir Khan bagged first position by securing 4,028 votes at 21 polling stations during re-polling for National Assembly seat, NA 46, in Khyber Agency on Wednesday.

Returning Officer and Bara Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Nasir, however, said that final results would be announced on Thursday after counting 895 postal ballots.

The former senator was followed closely by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Iqbal Afridi, who got 3,804 votes, while former MNA Hamidullah Jan Afridi secured 3741 votes from all the 57 polling stations. Polling on 36 poling station was earlier completed on May 11.

The re-polling on the 21 polling stations was held after complaints were lodged by candidates about violence and snatching of ballot boxes and ballot papers by the supporters of opponents.

Outlawed militant group Lashkar-i-Islam had warned voters in Akkakhel area against going to Jamrud for casting their votes during the re-polling. However, Khyber Agency political administration made elaborate security arrangements at all the polling stations established in government buildings, mostly educational institutions.

The entire Jamrud Bazaar was closed and traffic was also diverted to the by-pass road, providing free and easy access to voters to cast their votes without any fear or hindrance.

Although June 5 was one of the hottest days, yet Bara voters came in large numbers and waited for long hours to cast their votes. The voters and polling agents of different candidates appreciated the arrangements made by the local administration in collaboration with the security forces.

However, women voters didn’t turn up to cast their votes in Jamrud. The staff at female polling stations was seen sitting idle, braving the hot and humid weather. Out of the total 63,468 voters, who were supposed to cast their votes, 18,050 were female voters, according to officials.—Correspondent