KHAR: Rejecting the proposed delimitation of the National Assembly constituencies in Bajaur Agency, leaders of All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance has decided to take up the changes with the officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The alliance leaders made the decision during a meeting held at a local hotel here the other day with its president Abdul Manan in the chair. The meeting was attended by senior representatives of almost all political and religious parties in the agency.

The participants were briefed about the proposed changes in the constituencies. They noted that the fresh delimitation for the National Assembly constituencies for the upcoming general elections was against the sentiments of local people. After the briefing, the participants unanimously rejected the fresh delimitation and termed it against the interests of local people.

It was observed that the fresh changes in constituencies would create problems for the tribesmen to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections. They criticised the officials of Election Commission of Pakistan for not taking the people and stakeholders into confidence before finalising the delimitation process.

According to the decision made during the meeting, the alliance would challenge the changes in delimitation in the local office of ECP in Khar. They said that a delegation of the alliance would also meet with the ECP officials to inform them in detail about the mistakes and errors made in the fresh delimitation of constituencies in the agency.

However, the participants of the meeting welcomed the proposed allocation of a new seat of National Assembly to Bajaur Agency and termed it in the line with the increase in population of the region.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2018