MANSEHRA: District returning officer Ameer Khattak has announced the people wanting to contest the upcoming local body elections no more need to file affidavit affirming that no criminal and tax evasion case is pending against them with the court.

The announcement came amid complaints that stamp paper sellers are charging Rs1000 and more for such affidavits each. The district returning officer said he had told all returning offices in the district and other relevant authorities in writing that the election nomination papers carried columns on tax evasion and criminal cases and therefore, there was no need to ask candidates to file separate affidavit in this respect.

In the day, election candidates, including women, along with supporters flocked to the Mansehra courts to file nomination papers with the respective returning officers. The last date to file nomination papers is April 17. Similar situation was also reported in Balakot, Oghi and Gari Habibulllah.

The election commission sources said around 4,000 people had received nomination papers for 59 district wards and a similar number of people for wards of Balakot, Mansehra and Oghi tehsils and 193 village and neighbourhood councils of the district.

“I have never seen such an enthusiasm. A large number of people are participating in the upcoming local government elections,” said Mohammad Iqbal Khan, who filed nomination papers for the district councilor.

He said corruption and the people’s deprivation in his ward compelled him to come forward and contest elections.

“It doesn’t matter if I win or lose elections. What is important for me is that I’m ready to play due role for the betterment of our society,” he said.

CANDIDATE NAMED: A jirga of Kaghan valley on Thursday named former provincial minister Akhtar Hussain Shah as its candidate for the slot of the district councilor in the upcoming local body elections. The nomination came after father and ex-Senator Syed Muzamal Shah and brother and former provincial minister Syed Ahmad Hussain Shan announced the end to differences with Akhtar Hussain.

Akhtar Hussain Shah will file nomination papers with returning officer in Kaghan on Friday. Sources in PML-N say there is a greater likelihood of Syed Akhtar Shah becoming the next district chairman or nazim in Mansehra. Under the LG Act 2015, the district chairman or nazim will be elected from among the councilors of the district council.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2015

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