SWABI: The PTI and ANP candidates have been elected councillors unopposed in different union councils here.

However, a formal notification of their election has yet to be issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The by-elections for these seats were slated to be held Dec 23.

Sources said PTI’s Haidar Ali Bacha was elected unopposed in the Kunda union council as district councillor, ANP’s Haidar Ali in the Saleem Khan union council as member of Swabi tehsil council and PTI’s Abid Aziz in the Zarobi union council as Topi tehsil councillor.

The decision about the unanimous candidature of Haidar Ali in Saleem Khan union council was made during a meeting of five councillors with members of a local jirga.

Jalal Mayar of the ANP was also elected a youth councillor unopposed in the Kalu Khan union council, while two general councillors were elected unopposed in Panjpir and Malikabad union councils.

In the Baja, Bamkhel, Mantani Changan, Tarakai and Gandaf union councils, no one filed nomination papers for the general councillor seats. The same happened in the Ismalia union council for the youth councillor’s seat.

Also, no one applied for contesting by-elections on the vacant women’s seats in Saleem Khan Central and Mani No 3 union councils. However, the nominees of political parties will participate in the elections for the vacated seats of Panjpir, Kala and Malikabad union councils.

FIRING IN AIR: The residents have demanded an effective crackdown on celebratory firing during marriage ceremonies and other festivals in the district.

They told Dawn that firing in the air had killed many innocent and peaceful people.

The residents said a famer died in Sodher village a week ago after being hit by a stray bullet as he was busy tilling his field.

They demanded the arrest of the violators of the ban on celebratory firing for punishment. The residents flayed the local police for being indifferent to the growing incidence of firing in the air.

“We want an immediate end to celebratory firing,” said Abdul Ghaleem of Maneri Bala area.

He said he was hit by a stray bullet two years ago and the bullet was still in his body.

“In don’t know who is responsible for my injury,” he said.

Farmer Safdar Khan regretted that the wealthy, influential people fired bullets in the air on festive occasions without let or hindrance.

They demanded strict action against the culprits to discourage celebratory firing in the district.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2018