TIMERGARA: In Lower Dir’s national assembly constituency of NA-6, a real contest is between the MMA and ANP candidates, according to political observers.

Talking to Dawn on Monday, they said in NA-6 Ahmad Hassan Khan of PPP, Maulana Asadullah of MMA, Zahid Khan of ANP, Mehboob Shah of PTI and Javed Akhtar Tajak of PML-N were among the total eight candidates in the running, but ANP and MMA nominees were the forerunners.

According to them, in NA-7, the position of JI chief Sirajul Haq is stronger as the constituency is being considered the stronghold of his party.

In this constituency, the JI chief will face Bashir Khan of PTI, Shahid Jan of PPP and Nazir Khan of ANP.

The PML-N has fielded Ms Sobia Khan, a former MPA, on reserved seat from NA-7, but there are little hopes for her success. “We haven’t seen Ms Sobia in the area during the campaign,” a local resident said.

It is to note here that except Bashir Khan, the PTI has fielded new faces on all the constituencies, thus sidelining its previous poll candidates.

In PK-13, Shad Nawaz Khan of MMA, Mohammad Zeb of ANP and Azam Khan of PTI are among the seven candidates vying for the seat, but real contest is between the MMA and ANP.

Bakht Baidar Khan of PPP, Dr Zakirullah of MMA, Humayun Khan of PTI, Hussain Shah of ANP and Syed Ghani of PML-N are among the 11 candidates in the run for PK-14, but according to the observers, the MMA and PPP candidates would give tough time to each other.

In PK-15, the real contest is expected between two former provincial ministers -- Muzafar Said of MMA and Mehmood Zeb Khan of PPP.

In PK-16, Izazul Mulk Afkari of MMA is facing Haji Bahadar Khan of ANP and Sarbiland Khan of PTI, but the real contest is expected between him and the ANP nominee.

In PK-17, former MPA Saeed Gul of MMA, Liaqat Ali Khan of PTI, Naeem Jan of ANP and Muzafar Khan of PPP are vying for the seat, but a tough fight is expected between the MMA and PTI.

CRACKDOWN ON HEALTH CENTRES: District health officer Shaukat Ali on Monday said a crackdown would soon be launched on illegally operating private hospitals and maternity homes in the district.

Chairing a meeting of owners of private hospitals and maternity homes, the DHO said the department was determined to implement the PMDC rules in the district.

Mr Ali asked the participants to fulfill all the requirements of private hospitals’ registration.

PAPERS’ RE-CHECKING DEMANDED: A schoolteacher, Abdul Malik from Maidan, on Monday demanded of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Malakand, to re-check the papers of his 9th grade son, Osama Shahid bearing roll number 39877.

In a statement, he said his son had attempted all questions in the papers but had been awarded only 454 marks in 9th grade’s annual examination. He said his son was among the toppers but due to improper checking of the papers his child had been deprived of his right.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018