UPPER DIR: The elections for the tehsil nazim and naib nazim offices in Wari tehsil of Upper Dir for the third time is scheduled to be held tomorrow (Thursday).

However, there is a likelihood of the council’s dissolution due to the failure of the Jamaat-i-Islami and opposition Muttahida Qaumi Mahaz to make a breakthrough on the matter.

The Election Commission has announced schedule for the elections for the third time.

The elections for the slots of nazim and naib nazim were held first on Aug 30 2015 and then on Sept 12 but they ended in a draw on both occasions.

Both the candidates secured seven votes each.

JI, Qaumi Mahaz fail to end deadlock over tehsil govt formation

The situation turned interesting when two members of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) decided to join the opposition camp on Aug 30, 2015 - the day of election for both slots at first time. The number of JI’s tehsil councillors dropped to seven from nine elected members after two of its members switched loyalty.

The Muttahida Qaumi Mahaz consisting of PTI, PPP, PML-N and ANP has named Gul Bahadar, a disgruntled JI leader, its candidate for the nazim elections.

The ECP had announced Sept 20 as the election day for third time but JI blocked the electoral exercise by getting the stay order against it from a local court.

The JI also formally contacted the ECP to seek disqualification of its disgruntled councillors.

The ECP however rejected the JI plea.

Meanwhile, JI and its rival camp have been trying to get the support of at least one member and break the deadlock over the formation of the Wari tehsil government.

PTI candidate for the naib nazim’s slot Saeed Shah said the Muttahida Qaumi Mahaz had suggested two-year turn for each side to form the tehsil government but the JI rejected the suggestion.

Sources in the JI said the party leaders tried to woo the disgruntled members, but to no avail.

They said Gul Bahadar demanded tehsil nazim’s slot but JI leadership didn’t accept the demand.

The sources said the JI had contacted the ANP with a request to support its candidates but the contact didn’t bear fruit.

ANP district president Raja Ameer Zaman said his party had demanded the tehsil nazim’s slot, which was unacceptable for the JI.

“The JI is not ready to leave the nazim’s office to the ANP,” he said.

If the deadlock on the matter continues, there is a likelihood of the tehsil council’s dissolution and re-election for it.

Under the rules, the re-election will take place on all tehsil council seats if the nazim and naib nazim elections tie for the third consecutive time.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2016