SWABI: Awami National Party leaders here on Sunday demanded of the election commission to hold the district nazim’s election as soon as possible.

They said earlier it was announced that the nazim’s election would be held on Oct 25, but the schedule was postponed.

However, the election commission has failed to announce the next date which has created many doubts in the minds of the local government representatives, they said, adding both the treasury and opposition members had finalised their strategy to contest the election.

The nazim’s slot got vacated after ANP district president Ameer Rehman tendered resignation to contest the general elections from PK-47, Swabi-V.

The ANP has nominated Mohammad Zahid to contest the election, while Azizullah Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is the expected candidate.

The ANP enjoys the support of Swabi Democratic Alliance, a coalition of six political and religious parties in the district.

At present the district assembly is run by acting district nazim Hassan Khan of ANP. ANP leader Mohammad Ishfaq claimed with the support of allied parties the party had the support of 45 members in the 84-member house.

The total number of PTI members in the district assembly is 30 and the remaining nine members could go either way. If the neutral members support PTI then the contest would be interesting. The PTI leaders claimed various members of ANP and its allies would support them.

CLEAN AND GREEN CAMPAIGN: The public sector educational institutions are actively participating in Clean and Green Pakistan drive.

Heads of educational institutions said on Sunday they wanted to sensitise the students to the importance of clean environment and their role in that regard. They said their main focus was on promoting a sense of responsibility among the students about the cleanness and growing more trees.

Rahim Zada, principal of government higher secondary school, Topi, told Dawn that the students should play their role in the campaign not only in their institutions but also in their streets and surroundings.

“Once the students are educated they can contribute to the campaign more than other people,” said Pervez Khan, another college principal.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018