MANSEHRA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Ahmad Hussain Shah won by-election in the PK-30, Mansehra, constituency on Tuesday.

Announcing unofficial results of the by-election, the returning officer said the PTI nominee secured 46,483 votes, while the runner-up was PML-N’s Mazhar Ali Qasim with 39,945 votes.

There were seven candidates, including nominees of political parties and independents, for the PK-30 seat, which had fallen vacant last year after the Supreme Court disqualified PML-N’s Mian Ziaur Rehman in a fake degree case.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had set up 186 polling stations for the by-election.

Addressing a jubilant crowd, Mr Shah thanked voters for electing him and said he would ensure the execution of mega development projects in Balakot.

PTI MNA Salah Mohammad Khan said his party’s by-election victory had showed the people’s support for the federal and provincial governments.

He said the government was striving to improve the people’s socioeconomic conditions.

The lawmaker promised massive development in the region.

Meanwhile, Shaukat Awan was elected naib nazim of Oghi tehsil unopposed on Wednesday after the PTI withdrew its candidate.

“I am thankful to the PTI for withdrawing its nominee in the large public interest. The last election was annulled by the Election Commission of Pakistan as no candidate could secure the minimum 10 votes in the 18-strong house,” Mr Awan told the council, which met to elect naib nazim.

The PTI and Jamaat-i-Islami leaders met before announcing withdrawal of candidate Noorur Rehman as a goodwill gesture towards the JI-led tehsil government.

Returning officer Hamid Khan notified Mr Awan as tehsil naib nazim, who will also hold the office of the council’s convener.

Mr Awan thanked the councillors of both PTI and JI for reposing confidence in him and said he would run the house in a friendly environment.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2019