TIMERGARA: As many as 33 polling stations have been declared ‘most sensitive’ and 42 ‘sensitive’ in PK-95 where by-election is scheduled to be held on May 7.

Sources in the election office, Timergara, said a total of 85 polling stations had been set up. They said that of the 266 polling booths 90 had been specified for female voters.

The district election commission has sought foolproof security arrangements from the district police officer through a letter. When contacted, officials in the police department said that about 1,000 police and Dir Levies officials would be deployed on all polling stations. The sources said that special security arrangements would be made for the ‘most sensitive’ polling stations in the constituency.

The PK-95 seat was vacated by Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq following his election as senator. A total of 20 contestants have filed nomination papers.

The JI has fielded its district chief Izazul Mulk, while Awami National Party allotted ticket to its disgruntled leader Haji Bahadar Khan. Both Mr Mulk and Mr Bahadar have been active in politics since long. Mr Bahadar remained member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for two times and had also held the tehsil nazim slot.

Meanwhile, PML-N on Thursday announced to field its candidates for the upcoming local government polls. The announcement was made during a meeting held at the hujra of Shah Nawab Jan at Khazana with PML-N Khazana president Nawab Haidar in the chair. The meeting was attended by party workers from different areas of the area.

JI-PTI ALLIANCE: The Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Adenzai chapters, have agreed to make electoral alliance for the upcoming local government elections.

The decision was made during a meeting of the JI and PTI at Chakdara which was attended by local leaders of both the parties. Later, speaking at a press conference at the Chakdara Press Club, PTI Dir Lower president Fakhruz Zaman and JI Adenzaichief Rahimullah said that both the parties had agreed under 50-50 formula of seats’ distribution. They said that workers of both the parties would follow the decision. They said that nazim and naib nazim slots would be shared by both the parties. “If the nazim slot is given to one party then naib nazim would be from the other party,” Rahimullah said.

However some of the PTI divisional office-bearers rejected the alliance. Talking to media persons, Salim Khan, Rehmanullah and others said that the party would field its own candidates. They said that JI had hijacked PTI in Dir Lower, Upper Dir Upper and Buner districts.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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