KOHAT: Regional election commissioner Adnan Bashir has summoned Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir MNA Shehryar Afridi to explain his position for violating code of conduct for the local body elections.

The election commissioner had also summoned the lawmaker on Dec 3, but he did not show up.

Now he has asked Mr Afridi to appear before him on Dec 9 (today) to clarify his position for violating the election commission laws.

A notification issued on Tuesday said in case of non-compliance the matter would be reported to the Election Commission of Pakistan for initiating necessary proceedings against the lawmaker.

To a query that why the election commission was not taking action against chairman district development advisory committee Ziaullah Bangash as he had been announcing development funds, a relevant official said the commission was bound to act only when it received a written complaint.

Separately, the district administration on Wednesday enforced Section 144 for five days from Dec 15 to 20, restricting Afghan refugees to their camps and also banning festive firing at election rallies for keeping peace during the local body polls scheduled for Dec 19.

Deputy commissioner Roshan Mehsud has directed the SHOs of all the police stations to ensure that any election rallies, victory celebrations after the polls or other functions were held after getting permission from them.

TWO OUTLAWS ARRESTED: The Kohat police on Wednesday arrested two brothers, who had been at large for 14 years after committing a murder in 2007.

The Cantonment police SHO Hamayun Khan, acting on a tip-off provided by the police’s local security branch, arrested the proclaimed offenders, Pervez Khan and Qamar Gul, in a raid in Mohallah Mohammad Zaman Shinwari, Jungle Khel. A Kalashnikov, a pistol along with dozens of cartridges were seized from them.

RALLY AGAINST CORRUPTION: Speakers at a rally held on Wednesday on the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day called for curbing corruption for the country’s development.

Officials of different departments and civil society activists participated in the rally with the participants marching from the Peshawar Square to the Kohat Press Club.

Speaking on the occasion, assistant director anti-corruption Fida Mohammad said corruption was a sin that gave birth to poverty and injustice in the society.

The other speakers called for across-the-board accountability to ensure good governance.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2021