LOWER DIR: Political activists have expressed reservations over the preliminary delimitations of the provincial assembly constituencies in the Lower Dir district, and demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to revert to the old arrangement.

Speaking at a news conference at the Chakdara Press Club here on Sunday, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl deputy secretary general Bakht Naseem, party’s Kotigram emir Qari Hazrat Habib, Maulana Rahatul Mulk, Maulana Khan Badshah and others complained the Kotigram union council had been illegally included in the PK-15, Khall constituency.

They said geographically and historically the union council was part of PK-16, Adenzai. They demanded of the ECP to include the Kotigram UC back in PK-16.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party workers also expressed reservations on the fresh delimitation of constituencies in Lower Dir.

Ask ECP to retain old constituencies

Talking to Dawn, they said the Mian Kalay union council, which was a major UC of Munda tehsil, had been included in PK-18 ‘without’ people’s consent. They demanded of the ECP to include the UC back in PK-17.

However, residents of Kambat, Darangal and Miskini union councils expressed satisfaction over their inclusion in PK-18 as earlier those UCs were part of PK-14, Lal Qila Maidan.

According to the preliminary delimitations, the number of provincial assembly seats in Lower Dir remains the same as five. However, some areas have been merged into other constituencies.

The PK-14, Lower Dir-I comprises the Lal Qila tehsil and three union councils of Balambat tehsil, including Lajbok, Hayaserai and Balambat. Similarly, PK-15, Lower Dir-II, comprises the Khall and Balambat tehsils, excluding the latter’s three UCs and Kotigram union council of Adenzai tehsil.

The rest of Adenzai tehsil has been made part of PK-16, Lower Dir-III, which comprises Timergara and Munda tehsils, excluding the latter’s Mian Kalay union council, which has been declared as part of PK-17, Lower Dir-IV.

Likewise, Samarbagh tehsil and Mian Kalay union council of Munda has been declared part of PK-18, Lower Dir-V.

CONVENTION: ANP senior vice-president Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti claims Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed record development when he was the chief minister.

He was addressing a party workers’ convention in Chakdara on Saturday evening.

ANP central vice-president Hussain Shah Yousafzai, district president Haji Bahadar Khan, party’s candidate for PK-16 Wasil Khan, tehsil president Allah Dad Khan and others also spoke on the occasion.

Several political activists announced to join the ANP.

Mr Hoti said terrorism had once again returned to KP, but vowed to eliminate the menace if his party came to power.

He said his party would also push for making higher education and gas supply as the provincial subjects if it was voted to power.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2023