KHAR: The activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s youth wing, Bajaur chapter, on Sunday announced support for former lawmaker Shahabuddin Khan and his son in the upcoming general elections.

Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, PTI youth wing president Malik Riaz Khan said the decision was made at a meeting on Saturday.

He said the meeting expressed dismay over the PTI local leadership’s failure to respond to their reservations over the award of party tickets for NA-40 and NA-41.

Flanked by several PTI youth activists, Malik Riaz said they had requested the party leadership to address their reservations over the ticket distribution, but to no avail.

“We had given a week’s time to the leadership to address our concerns over award of party tickets for the two NA seats in Bajaur, but they failed, forcing us to announce support for Shahabuddin and his son,” he explained.

The other activists on the occasion lamented that attitude of the party leadership had badly disappointed them, leaving them with no option but to support the independent candidates.

As per the decision taken at the Saturday’s meeting, the PTI youth activists said they would not only support Shahbuddin and his son in the elections, but would also run their election campaign to ensure that they defeated the PTI contestants.

The PTI youth wingers rejected the allegation that they were supporting Shahabuddin and his son after getting money from them, saying that Mr Shahbuddin had played a key role in implementation of Fata reforms.

Shahabuddin Khan, who was also present on the occasion, thanked the PTI youth activists for supporting him and his son in the elections.

TESCO WARNING: The Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) on Sunday asked the parties and poll candidates not to put up their flags, posters and banners on the electricity poles.

According to a statement, the power company expressed concern over growing trend of installing party flags, banners and posters on electric poles by supporters of candidates during the ongoing election campaign.

The statement said the officials had requested the leaders of political parties and candidates to avoid violating the ECP code of conduct, but to no avail.

It urged the candidates to stop their supporters from installing flags, banners and other publicity material on electricity poles across the region.

The Tesco also requested the local administration and the election commission to help curb the dangerous practice.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2018