MANSEHRA: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday declared independent candidate Laiq Mohammad Khan the election winner in Torghar district’s only provincial assembly constituency PK-41.

An ECP bench comprising Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Babar Hassan Bharwana set aside the petition of Awami National Party election nominee Zareen Gul and ordered the notification of Mr Laiq’s victory.

The returning officer of the constituency has already issued election results in the form of Form 49.

Lawyer Jehangir Khan Jadoon appeared for Mr Gul, while Babar Khan was the counsel for Mr Laiq.

ECP orders notification of Laiq Mohammad’s victory

The ECP bench declared that detailed reasons for the verdict would be recorded separately. It added that the petitioner could approach the election tribunal with his complaint.

Mr Gul had filed his complaint under sections 4, 8, 9 and 15 of the Election Act, 2017, insisting the election at women’s polling stations in the constituency was rigged.

He requested the bench to withhold the issuance of the final election results.

Meanwhile, the winning candidate accused Mr Gul of committing postal ballot fraud.

WARNED: The central traders body in Oghi tehsil on Wednesday warned if the Peshawar Electric Supply Company didn’t check prolonged and unscheduled power outages, they would observe a shutter down strike.

“Our business activities have adversely been affected by the prolonged and unscheduled loadshedding. If power cuts don’t stop, we will take to the streets and observe a shutter down strike,” president of Oghi Traders Association Attaullah Khan told reporters.

Accompanied by other association members, Mr Attaullah said the business community was paying huge taxes despite high inflation.

Patron-in-chief of the traders’ body Maulana Obaidullah said the Peshawar Electric Supply Company suspended electricity every hour in the name of maintenance of power lines and trimming of tree branches.

He said traders regularly paid their electricity bills, but even then, they’re subjected to frequent and prolonged outages.

“If Pesco doesn’t bring power cuts to an end by March 4, we will down shutters and take to the streets,” he said.

Meanwhile, people in Jabori and its suburbs took out a rally against the prolonged power outages and demanded smooth supply of electricity.

They blocked Jabori’s central bridge and shouted slogans against the Pesco.

The speakers also complained about inflated power bills and said the government should withdraw extra surcharges from bills.

Published in Dawn, February 29th, 2024