SWABI, Sept 20: Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam defied the district returning officer by holding an ‘open kutchery’ in district Swabi on Tuesday. The DRO, Khalid Amin, had declared that the state minister as well as NWFP Minister for Education Maulana Fazal Ali should not hold the open kutchery in favour of the Swabi Jamhoori Ittehad and desist from influencing the third phase of local body elections.

Mr Muqam announced Rs30 million for provision of gas and Rs20 million for the supply of electricity to different areas of the district during the course of the kutchery proceedings.

The DRO summoned Mr Muqam and Mr Fazal Ali on Tuesday while taking action on an application filed by the Watan Dost group and Swabi Roshankhayal group in which they forewarned that the two ministers planned to hold an ‘open katchey’ at the residence of Shahram Khan, the consensus candidate of the eight-party Swabi Jamhoori Ittehad.

The Awami National Party-backed WDG and SRG demanded a ban on the event.

They said that the two ministers were utilizing the state machinery and resources for the SJI candidates.

They said that if the local body polls were really on a non-party basis the government should stop ministers from meddling in the last and crucial phase.

Maulana Fazal Ali attended the proceedings according to the DRO summon while Amir Muqam was represented by his lawyer Muhammad Israr Khan.

The lawyer said that Mr Muqam had not entered the district till 11am due to his engagements elsewhere.

Later at noon Mr Muqam reached the residence of Shahram Khan and held the ‘open kutchery’.

The education minister was told by the DRO to keep in mind the code of conduct of local body elections. The minister replied that they had been invited to lunch by Shahram Khan and no other thing was planned.

The DRO told Maulana Fazal that if they violated the code of conduct he would take action according to the law. He was also told to desist from influencing the third phase of election.

However, Mr Muqam reached the residence of Shahram Khan and held the open kutchery. The education minister did not announce any development project, though, giving the impression that he had upheld the court decision.

The invitation cards for the event made mention of the open kutchery and said that people’s problems concerning education and electricity would be solved on the spot by the ministers.

During the judicial proceedings, the ANP leaders defended their claim by saying that one should go through the invitation cards distributed by the SJI across the district.

The ANP leaders described the DRO’s decision against the “usurpers” as historic, only to find out later that the open kutcheri had taken place.

Mr Muqam visited the main election camp of the SJI at the district headquarters and later reached the residence of Swabi Qaumi Mahaz chairman Dr Muhammad Salim, MPA, who agreed to withdraw his nomination papers in favour of Shahram Khan.

A week earlier, the SQM had parted ways with the SJI, alleging that its leaders were indulging in horse trading. Now the group is on board again.

The state minister announced that the prime minister would visit the district next month.