SHANGLA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates have started canvassing for the re-polling in PK-23, Shangla-I, scheduled to be held on Sept 10.

Elections in the constituency were declared null and void by the Election Commission of Pakistan over low women turnout on July 25.

PTI candidate Shaukat Yousafzai had emerged victorious from the constituency, while PML-N’s Mohammad Rashad remained the runner-up.

However, on the application of PML-N candidate’s brother the election was declared null and void and the ECP had announced re-polling in the constituency.

Mr Yousafzai, who is also the spokesperson to the provincial government, said he was sure to defeat the opponent with higher margin than before.

However, he said the Supreme Court was expected to announce a verdict on his appeal seeking review of the ECP decision today (Wednesday).

He argued that Shangla was a backward area where contesting election was not an easy task and said women were unlikely to turn up at the polling stations during the re-polling.

PML-N’s Rashad Khan said he had started campaign to woo voters and that Shangla people would again elect him as their MPA. “I will try to bring maximum of women out to vote on the polling day,” he said, adding party chief Amir Muqam was in contact with ANP, MMA and PPP for an electoral alliance.

POWER BLACKOUT: Most parts of Bisham city have been in darkness since transformers of two posh areas went out of order during the Eid days. The worst hit localities are Bank Square and Bar Butyal.

“Every time the transformer develops fault we collect money for its repair, but goes out of order frequently due to overload,” Wakeel Khan, a resident of Bar Butyal, said. He added Pesco officials were least bothered to repair the power transformer.

Naeem-ul-Haq, a trader, said the over-loaded transformer always developed fault, causing losses to traders and domestic consumers.

He asked Pesco to install another transformer to distribute the load.

Several attempts were made to contact Pesco’s sub-divisional officer for Bisham for his version on the matter, but he did not attend the phone calls.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2018