MINGORA, April 11: As President Pervez Musharraf is likely to arrive here on the 15th of this month, the local bodies representatives of Malakand division have launched a campaign in favour of the presidential referendum in complete defiance of party instructions.

A majority of the Nazimeen of the division had in the past held important positions in political parties, now opposed to the referendum.

However, the local bodies representatives elected from the platform of these political parties, have started issuing statements in favour of the military regime.

The district Nazim of Swat, Dr Mehboobur Rehman, prior to his election was a member of the federal council of Pakistan People’s Party. Now his son Saleemur Rehman is the district president of the party. Humayun Khan, Nazim of the Malakand agency, used to be president of the PPP of the agency.

District Nazim of Dir (lower), Dr Mohammad Yaqoob Khan was provincial Naib Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami and Sahibzada Tariqullah, Nazim Dir (upper), was also a member of the JI.

District Nazim of Shangla, Rasheedur Rehman was a leader of the Awami National Party. District Nazim of Buner Sarzamin Khan was a leader of Pakistan Muslim League.

Among the union council Nazimeen majority of them was associated with political parties in the past and had been issuing press statements against the present government.

These representatives while holding party posts were strongly opposing the military government.