MARDAN: The contest for the Mardan district nazim tied as both the main contenders got 28 votes each, while the third aspirant secured only eight votes in the election held here on Monday.

Three candidates, including Hamayun Khan of Awami National Party, Ihtisham Ali Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Mohammad Shafiq Khan of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, were vying for the nazim’s slot.

During the polls, a total of 64 council members cast their vote in which ANP’s Hamayun Khan and PTI’s Ihtisham Ali got 28 votes each, while the JUI-F’s Mohammad Shafiq obtained eight votes.

While announcing the results, the officials said a special meeting would be convened in next few days for elections between the ANP and PTI candidates after the contest was tied between them.

The post of district nazim was vacated when Himayatullah Mayar of ANP resigned on June 11 last year to participant in the general elections.

Earlier, Waqar Khan was declared as officiating district nazim in a controversial election held a month ago. Later, the Election Commission of Pakistan had scheduled the poll for Jan 28 for election of the district nazim.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2019