PESHAWAR, Aug 18: A former nazim of Peshawar city, Haroon Bilour, was arrested on Thursday on the orders of the district returning officer (DRO), Shahjehan Akhunzada.

Confirming the arrest, police officials said Mr Bilour had been held in Lady Reading Hospital’s Bolton Block after the DRO had issued warrants for his arrest. But police refused to provide details.

A police official said the former nazim had been arrested on the orders of the district and sessions judge, but refused to say anything about reason for the action.

Soon after the arrest warrants had been issued, Mr Bilour was taken to the cardiology ward of the hospital where he was admitted. Family sources, however, denied that Mr Bilour had been detained and said that he had been admitted to the hospital for health reasons.

Haroon Bilour is the son of Bashir Bilour, the Awami National Party’s provincial president. Mr Bilour is considered the main aspirant for the position of nazim of the city district.

Sources said that Mr Bilour had exchanged hot words with the DRO during a visit to the latter’s office in the afternoon. The arrest warrants were issued after the meeting. The DRO was not available for comment.

DOZENS ARRESTED: Dozens of people were arrested from various polling stations in the provincial capital on charges of disrupting the poll process, according to an official handout.