MANSEHRA: The Jamaat-i-Islami and its rival Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in Oghi tehsil council couldn’t finalise the name of their respective candidate for by-election to the office of tehsil naib nazim to be held on Feb 26.

The Election Commission of Pakistan annulled the elections held for the office of tehsil naib nazim last month after none of the contestants could secure the required 10 votes in the 18-member council and had announced fresh polling on Feb 26.

The ruling JI had lost the elections to PTI which could secure nine votes as four Jamaat members crossed the floor and voted for it.

JI and PTI yet to name candidates

The seats in two union councils had been vacant since PTI councillor Nawabzada Fareed and naib tehsil nazim Zahidullah had resigned to contest the provincial assembly elections last year.

Mr Fareed was elected to the provincial assembly by defeating Mr Zahidullah in the general elections, but by-elections in both the union councils could not be held as yet.

PTI has eight councillors, but facing internal rift as its two female members are against the male councillors and are ready to elect Mohammad Younus of JI as tehsil naib nazim unopposed, but the latter was not ready to accept the offer.

Shakar Hussain, JI district information secretary, told mediapersons that the district Shura would soon decide the name of its candidate for the office of naib nazim.

PROTEST THREATENED: The local councillors have threatened to stage agitation if the tehsil government doesn’t take action against truckers loading over 10 tonnes of granite in violation of ban.

“The tehsil government in consultation with the mineral department, truckers and mining companies has imposed ban on transportation of granite above 10 tonnes per truck, but the truckers are still loading up to 20 tonnes, damaging the local roads,” Shaukat Hayat Khan, nazim Kokla, told mediapersons in Oghi on Sunday.

Flanked by other councillors, Mr Khan said that Darband-Oghi road had developed cracks and ditches because of transportation of heavy granite and other minerals from the area.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2019