TIMERGARA: The local election commission office on Wednesday announced schedule for holding by-election on vacant seats of district and village councils in the Lower Dir district.

District election commissioner Noor Said Khan Khattak told Dawn that the by-election would be held in two phases. He added in the first phase by-election to 15 village council seats, including eight general, one peasant, two women and four youth councillors, would be held on Dec 2. He maintained that the polling had also been scheduled on two polling stations of Khungi village council where result was declared void on women disenfranchisement.

The official said the by-election for seven district and 11 village councilors’ seats would be held on Dec 23.

Seven district councillors had contested the general election for provincial assembly and the ECP had accepted their resignations.

Deputy commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram has been nominated as district returning officer while additional deputy commissioner Mohammad Irshad and assistant commissioner, Timergara, Gauhar Ali would act as assistant returning officers during the LG by-elections.

Candidates have been asked to submit their nomination papers on Nov 19, 20 and 21. The scrutiny would be held from Nov 24 to 27. Objections could be filed from Nov 30 to Dec 1. The election symbols would be issued on Dec 4 for the second phase of the election to be held on Dec 23.

ROBBERS ARRESTED: Lal Qila police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested two persons involved in looting a shopkeeper in Kumbar Bazaar a few days ago and recovered Rs32,000 from them.

Circle DSP Saeed ur Rehman told journalists that the police investigated the case and two of the five accused identified as Akhtar Zeb and Subhanullah of Chappar Upper Dir were traced through the vehicle used in the crime.

The DSP said the two accused confessed to the crime, adding their accomplices were being traced.

RELEASE OF OFFICIAL SOUGHT: The All Pakistan Clerks’ Association, Lower Dir chapter, has warned to observe a pen down strike if the assistant of the assistant commissioner, Adenzai, was not released within 24 hours. The demand was made during a protest rally on Wednesday.

The association’s provincial president Mohammad Sahir Tajak alleged that the Adenzai AC not only misbehaved with his assistant, Akbar Khan, but also sent him to lockup after an exchange of harsh words.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2018