SWABI: About 5,000 candidates have filed nomination papers from 169 village councils of the district for the upcoming local bodies polls, the largest ever number in the history of Swabi to have ever entered into fray for any election, Dawn learnt here.

According to the local election sources, the final list of contesting candidates numbered about 5,000. They said that the candidates could withdraw their nominations till May 5, and scrutiny of papers would be conducted between April 20 and 25.

They said that 450 candidates had filed papers for the slot of the district councilor, and 350 for that tehsil councillor. The officials said that over 1,200 candidates would be elected in the local bodies elections.

They said that several candidates had been nominated by jirgas in different areas, who had an upper hand over other contestants.

PTI MEETING: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local leaders said that prevailing system in Pakistan could only be changed if PTI was voted to power in the four provinces and the centre as well.

They were addressing a public meeting which was organised at Bakar village on Monday in honour of PTI’s Shahzada Fahad for being nominated as the candidate for the district councilor slot, and JI’s Rozi Khan for his nomination as tehsil councilor, and nunion councillor nominee Saleem Khan.

MNA Aqibullah Khan, brother of Speaker Asad Qaisar, district president Anwar Haq Dad Khan, general secretary Yusuf Ali and various young leaders and workers were in attendance.

Mr Aqibullah said the PTI-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already introduced several result-oriented reforms in the province and much more was expected to be followed.

“The ordinary people are feeling the change in their lives,” he claimed. Mr Haq Dad Khan said PTI leadership had the capacity to deliver if the party was sent to power across the country.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015

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