SKARDU, June 30: Wazir Shakeel Ahmed, former chairman, district council, Skardu, and Syed Tahir Ali Shah have announced that they would contest the Northern Areas Legislative Council election from Skardu Ward No.3 and the three wards of Ghanche district, respectively.

Wazir Shakeel Ahmed and Syed Tahir Ali, in a joint statement here, said that on the insistence of the people of the area "I have decided to participate in the upcoming NALC election from Skardu against the Deputy Chief Executive, Northern Areas, Haji Fida Mohammad Nashad".

He pledged that if voted to the NALC he will solve the problems of the people on merit and play an active role in maintaining peace and harmony in the region. Syed Tahir Ali Shah said the legislative council was meant to make legislation but it had failed to achieve this goal.

This was due to the fact that most of the NALC members were illiterate and they did not realize the need for legislation. Keeping in view this fact, "we have decided to contest the NALC election from both the districts of Baltistan." They demanded that graduate people should be elected to the council and the voter's age be fixed at 18 years instead of 21.