PESHAWAR, Jan 27: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Thursday restrained the acting district nazim of Lower Dir, Sultanul Mulk, from performing his functions.

The bench, comprising Justice Ijaz Afzal and Justice Fazlur Rehman Khan, admitted for full hearing a writ petition filed by Enayatullah Khan, the rival candidate during the polls for acting district nazim in Dir.

The petitioner challenged the notification issued by the secretary local government department declaring Sultanul Mulk as the acting nazim.

The court granted interim relief to the petitioner and ordered that the acting nazim should not perform his functions.

The court issued a notice to respondents, including the secretary local government and Sultanul Mulk.

The petitioner stated that he received 25 votes during elections held in the district council for electing the acting nazim while Sultanul Mulk received 23 votes. He contended that two of his votes were cancelled.—Bureau Report