SWABI: A total of 76 candidates are in the running for two national and five provincial assembly constituencies in the Swabi district after 67 candidates of political parties and independents withdrew their nomination papers, sources told Dawn here on Saturday.

A total of 20 candidates had filed nomination papers for NA-18, Swabi-I, of which, 13 withdrew their papers, leaving seven in the running. Prominent among them are PTI’s Asad Qaisar, PML-N’s Sajjad Khan, ANP’s Mohammad Islam Khan, Maulana Fazal Ali of MMA, Masood Jabar of QWP andMaulana Khalil Ahmad Mukhlis of JUI-Nazriati, who is the joint candidate ofPPP andJUI-N.

Similarly, a total of 21 candidates had filed their papers for NA-19, Swabi-II, of them, 12 withdrew papers, leaving nine in the race.

The leading candidates are: Maulana Attaulhaq Darvaish of MMA, Usman Khan Tarakai of PTI, Waris Khan of ANP, Mohammad Naeem Khan of PPP and Khalid Bacha of QWP.

Nineteen candidates would contest the election from PK-43, Swabi-I. Prominent among them are Shiraz Khan of PML-N, Rangaiz Khan of PTI, Sultan Sher of QWP and Ayaz Khan of MMA.

Eleven candidates would contest for PK-44, Swabi-II. Noted among them are Gul Zamin Shah of ANP, Babar Saleem of PML-N, Asad Qaisar of PTI and Hameedullah Khan of QWP.

Similarly, 12 contenders are vying for PK-45, Swabi-III, after six candidates gave up the race. Prominent among them are Abdul Karim of PTI, Engr Amjid Ali of ANP and Burhanullah of QWP.

Eight candidates are in the race for PK-46, Swabi-IV, of the total 15 who filed papers. Prominent candidates are Mohammad Ali Tarakai of PTI, Ayaz Shoaib of ANP and Rehman Ali of QWP. Sixteen candidates had filed papers for PK-47, Swabi-V, but six of them withdrew. Prominent among those are Shahram Khan Tarakai of PTI, Ameer Rehman of ANP, Yousaf Zaman of QWP and Ijaz Akram Bacha of PML-N.

STRIKE CALLED OFF: The doctors and paramedical staff ofBacha Khan Teaching Hospital Shahmansooron Saturday called off their strike after successful negotiations with the officials of the district administration who assured them of providing them security.

The doctors and other staff were protesting against manhandling of a senior doctor by attendants of a patient. The officials assured them that those involved in the attack would be arrested soon.

ENTRY TEST: Engr Jehangir Bashar, Rector ofGhulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, said on Saturday that about 7,500 students from all over the country would appear in the entrance test being held on Sunday (today).

The test centres have been established in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta.

Mr Bashar said the successful candidates would be offered admissions in disciplines of engineering and management sciences.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2018