LANDI KOTAL: At least six candidates contesting elections on tickets of their respective political parties for the provincial assembly seat of PK-105, Landi Kotal, have announced to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan for alleged violation of election code of conduct by their rival candidates and restrictions on their election campaign.

The decision was made at a meeting held at the residence of PPP candidate Malakzada Nadeem Afridi on Wednesday. It was also attended by Mufti Ejaz of JUI-F, Shahid Hussain of PTI, Shah Hussain Shinwari of ANP, Murad Hussain of JI and Ali Rehman of QWP.

In a joint declaration issued after the meeting, they expressed their grave concern over unannounced restrictions on their electoral campaign in Bazaar Zakhakhel area, currently under the control of a so-called peace committee.

The declaration suggested that the entire Bazaar Zakhakhel area should either be disenfranchised or the polling stations should be established in the areas where every candidate had easy access. They also proposed a meeting with the activists of the peace committee to dispel the impression that Bazaar Zakhakhel was not an out-of-bound territory for outside candidates.

The declaration also accused federal minister for Haj and religious affairs Noorul Haq Qadri and an independent senator from Khyber of openly running the election campaigns for their respective independent candidates.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019