NOWSHERA: The by-polls are round the corner but no impressive election campaign has been witnessed so far in the district by any political party.

Like other parts of the country, the opposition parties in Nowshera have formed electoral alliance against the ruling PTI but it seems that the alliance has not impressed the voters.

Only three days are left in the by-polls but the opposition is yet to organise any considerable gathering to woo voters.

For both PK-61 and PK-64 seats, ANP has fielded its candidates Advocate Noor Alam Khan and Shahid Khan Khattak respectively against Ibrahim Khattak and Laiquat Khattak of PTI. The seats were vacated by Federal Defence Minister Pervez Khattak.

Laiquat Khattak, a former nazim and former, is the brother of Pervez Khattak while Ibrahim Khattak is the younger son of the defence minister.

Although PPP, JUI-F and PML-N are supporting the ANP candidates but none of these parties has come forward to run election campaign for them.

Very few banners, posters, placards and party flags can be seen on the roadsides and bazaar that give an impression of electioneering.

The local administration has set up 241 polling stations in the district and 86 of these have been declared very sensitive and 146 sensitive.

DPO Dr Zahidullah reviewed security plan for by the by-polls in a meeting and divided the area into three circles, six sectors and 23 sub-sectors. Police officers were deployed in their respective area to for security during by-polls.

The DPO said that no political party would be allowed to disturb the election process. He urged all political parties to extend support to the administration for holing peaceful by-polls.

He said that display of arms, firing in the air and other such actives would be completely banned on the polling day. He said that violators of law would be dealt with an iron hand.

He hoped that people of Nowshera would extend support to administration like they did during the general elections.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2018