KOHAT: A close contest is likely between the PTI candidate and an independent contestant in the by-election being held on an important Urban-V seat of the district council here today (Wednesday).

The seat had fallen vacant after the de-seating of former councillor Dr Matiullah Shah.

The race is considered crucial as Matiullah Shah had joined PML-N after winning the seat, but later quit it after developing differences with the party. The PML-N took him to Peshawar High Court which de-seated him.

Despite many requests he did not join JUI-F, but finally accepted the offer of PTI. The seat would decide future position of the parties in the district.

Matiullah Shah’s close rival is Naeem Kohati, a famed social worker, writer and dramatist. ANP’s Dr Sajid Nadeem and Azhar Ameen, the JUI-F and PML-N’s joint candidate, are also in the run.

The district policed have finalised security arrangements for the by-polls at 12 polling stations and prohibited entrance of police in the office of the presiding officer and other people without his permission.

Display of weapons outside and inside the polling stations, hooliganism, sloganeering and political speeches have also been banned.

ANTI-ENCROACHMENT DRIVE: The ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the main bazaar here has fizzled out as the shopkeepers have again put up stalls outside their shops despite warnings by the officials. About six months back, a similar drive was launched but due to protest by the traders it was stopped halfway.

Assistant commissioner Mehmood Ahmed gave a prior warning to the owners of shops in the main bazaar three days back to remove encroachments or face forced dismantling of the structures. Though the traders removed the encroachments, but they again put them up once a team of the civic body led by AC Mehmood Ahmed left the area.

Owing to encroachments, the main bazaar has become a congested place, troubling the shoppers. The shopkeepers have rented fronts of their shops to Afghan refugees at Rs500 each par day. The beneficiaries include the office-bearers of the bazaar union.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017