KHAR: Former MNA and candidate for NA-41, Bajaur, Shahabuddin Khan, has accused the deputy commissioner, who is also the district returning officer, of supporting a political party, and sought his transfer to ensure free and fair elections.

“The DRO is supporting a political party and I fear that there will be no free and fair elections if the official is not replaced,” he told reporters here on Monday.

The former PML-N lawmaker claimed that the deputy commissioner had created hurdles in execution of his development projects in the region for two and a half years.

Mr Shahabuddin slammed the provincial election commission for asking the provincial caretaker government to cancel the transfer of the deputy commissioner from the region, who along with eight other officials had been transferred by the provincial government in the larger public interest a few days ago.

Mr Shahabuddin had alleged last month that the deputy commissioner was using a bulletproof vehicle of his rival, Akhunzada Chattan of PPP, for the last several months. He had also held the DC responsible for delaying a number of his development projects, including construction of two degree colleges, to damage his image in the area.

Meanwhile, Mr Chattan rejected the claim that he had given a personal vehicle to the Bajaur deputy commissioner.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2018