LANDI KOTAL: Amid speculation of possible postponement of elections for 16 provincial assembly seats in tribal districts, 85 aspiring candidates have so far acquired nomination papers from the district returning officer for three seats in Khyber tribal district.

According to sources, 25 candidates have so far obtained nomination papers for PK-105, Landi Kotal; 28 for PK-106, Jamrud; and 32 have received papers for contesting elections for PK-107, Bara.

The Election Commission of Pakistan had earlier included Jamrud sub-tehsil of Malagori into PK-105 (Landi Kotal) and two sections of Bara sub-division into PK-106 (Jamrud). PK-107 includes the rest of Bara sub-division and entire Tirah valley, mostly bordering Afghanistan, Orakzai and Kurram.

In Bajaur tribal district, 63 aspiring candidates have obtained nomination papers to contest elections for the provincial assembly seats. An official said that ECP formally started issuing nomination papers to the candidates to contest the first-ever elections for the provincial assembly seats in the tribal districts.

Bajaur has three seats of provincial assembly including PK-100, PK-101 and PK102. He said that most of nomination papers were obtained for PK-100 and PK-101 seats. He said that a woman Tabsum Begum also got nomination papers on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2019