PESHAWAR: Awami National Party candidate for PK-114 (South Waziristan-II) Taj Wazir and his driver survived a gun attack near Wana late Thursday night.

Taj Wazir told Dawn by phone on Friday that motorcyclists opened fire at his vehicle in Zari Noor near Wana town when he was returning home after finishing the election campaign. He said the attackers fired several shots at the vehicle, but they remained unhurt.

He said he reported the case to the concerned returning officer.

Taj Wazir said the RO offered him security which he turned down. He alleged that bullets also hit his main election office in Wana Bazaar on Thursday when armed supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf resorted to celebratory firing.

He said ANP flags were also removed from shops and other buildings in the town while the district administration did not take action. “Armed people are running PTI candidate’s campaign,” he alleged.

When contacted, adviser to the chief minister on merged tribal districts Ajmal Wazir did not comment on the incident.

Meanwhile, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali Khan condemned the attack on the party candidate in South Waziristan and warned that the state institutions would be responsible if his candidate was harmed during the elections.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Aimal Wali alleged that PTI was using unfair means to steal mandate of the people of tribal districts. He demanded of the government to arrest people involved in firing incidents and also asked Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure free and fair polls in the area.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2019