MANSEHRA: Battagram deputy commissioner Zarif Almani on Friday issued a notification imposing a ban on political activities of government employees in the district during the local government elections scheduled to be held on May 30.

“As the government and its employees would remain neutral in the coming LG elections, employees found involved in any political activity, canvassing and seeking votes for any contender, would be taken to task under relevant laws,” warned the notification.

The notification was issued following complaints received by deputy commissioner.

“The public servants have also been barred from availing leaves in the district until the election process is over,” said Mr Almani, when contacted by Dawn. He said that as enrolment drive was also underway in the education department, teachers were strictly forbidden from getting involved in any election or political activity, and directed to work hard to take more and more out-of-school children to school.

Mr Almani said that awareness walks and sensitisation sessions regarding enrolment drive in district, particularly in highly conservative and backward Allai tehsil, would be conducted, next week to improve literacy rate in the district.

The Battagram deputy commissioner said that teachers had also been instructed to seek help of ulema and religious scholars during the enrolment drive.

He appealed to parents to send their children to school for a bright future of their country and their own.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2015

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