SHANGLA: As the local police registered cases against leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf over the Friday’s violent protest, which left two party activists dead, the deputy commissioner sent to prison Bisham tehsil chairman Sadeedur Rehman under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.

Meanwhile, the returning officer for NA-11, who had declared Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Amir Muqam as returned candidate on the seat, sparking violent protests, also on Saturday turned down the request of PTI-nominated independent candidate Said Fareen Khan to probe the alleged discrepancies in Form 45.

The RO in his order stated that the process of consolidation of the results had already completed, and no other candidate had requested for the same.

He stated that with reference to Elections Act, 2017, and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s instructions issued on January 24, and due to late submission of the plea by the PTI-backed candidate, his application was dismissed.

RO for NA-11 rejects PTI candidate’s plea to probe Form 45 ‘discrepancies’

The RO in his order also stated that PTI activists had snatched 115 Form 45 from the assistant returning officer when he was coming in a vehicle of the education department from Bisham. The order said PML-N’s Muqam had won the NA seat, getting 59,863 votes against Said Fareen’s 54,311 votes.

Meanwhile, Shangla deputy commissioner Ziaur Rehman issued an order under section 3 of MPO, arresting Bisham tehsil chairman Sadeedur Rehman.

PTI-backed Said Fareen had said on Friday that his sons, Sadeedur Rehman, Gulzar Khan, a nephew and PK-30 candidate Sadar Rehman, and a friend Badar Munir, had been missing since the evening of the Election Day.

Also on Saturday, the police lodged an FIR against the PTI leaders and workers under sections 302, 324, 353, 341, 436, 427, 186, 189, 147, 148, 149 and 500 of Pakistan Penal Code and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Those booked included PTI former provincial minister and provincial senior vice-president Shaukat Yousafzai, Haji Said Fareen, Alpuri tehsil chairman Waqar Ahmad Khan and others.

The police had arrested over 30 PTI activists on Friday during the violent protests, in which two party workers, residents of Puran tehsil, were killed when the police allegedly opened fire.

The FIR states that the protesters threw stones at the police stations and damaged the public property, a police van and also torched an education department vehicle.

The FIR also mentioned that both the PTI workers were killed after they were hit by stones the PTI activists were pelting on public buildings. It claimed the PTI workers were equipped with weapons and blocked the main Bisham-Swat Road at Alpuri Chowk.

However, Dr Sajjad Khan, deputy medical superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital, Alpuri, said both the PTI workers died of bullet wounds they suffered in their heads.

Meanwhile, the police produced PTI activist Sadar Rehman before the additional sessions judge in the violence-related case. However, the court ordered his release on bail.

The police tried to re-arrest him but lawyers rescued him and shifted him to the district bar room.

Jawad Ali Noor Advocate said Said Fareen and one of his sons, who were charged by the police in double murder case, had also been granted transit pre-arrest bail by the court of additional sessions judge on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2024