MANSEHRA: Four major tribes of Lower Kohistan district have decided to field their joint candidates in the second phase of the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The tribes warned that any one violating the decision would face social boycott.

“Like other tribes we have also decided to field candidates from our own tribe, and will not give votes to aspirants of any political party in the local body polls,” Abdul Hakeem, a spokesman of Kajukhel tribe, told reporters at the end of a jirga held in Pattan, the district headquarters of Lower Kohistan, on Sunday.

The jirga, which lasted for over eight hours, issued a unanimous decision, saying Kajukhel tribe, one of the four influential and largest tribes in the district, would not support any political party-backed candidate in the upcoming local government elections.

Mr Hakeem said the tribe would finalise names of aspirants through a lucky draw for Pattan and Binkhand Ranowalia tehsil chairmen slots and village and neighbourhood councils.

“The other tribes will also follow suit in accordance with their respective jirgas’ rulings to avoid any conflict in nominations of aspirants,” he said.

Three other major tribes – Haiderkhel, Sarkundkhel and Kiyalkhel -- have already announced the decision not to support any political party and field their own candidates for the polls scheduled for March 27.

OVERBILLING PROTESTED: People from different walks of life, including traders, on Sunday blocked the Darband-Thakot Road in Shahdugh Bazaar in Judbah, the district headquarters of Torghar, over inflated electricity bills.

They raised slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company, demanding of it to fix the overbilling.

Speaking on the occasion, Zahid Khan, a local elder, said Pesco was yet to set up offices in Judbah, and bills were sent from neighbouring Mansehra district. He also complained that in some instances Pesco sent bills without conducting meter-reading.

The elder regretted that 80 per cent area of Torghar was yet to be supplied with electricity.

He demanded that Pesco establish its offices in Judbah to redress complaints of consumers. He said if Pesco did not do away with the overbilling, they won’t pay the bills.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2022