TIMERGARA, Jan 8: A controversy over the appointment of a caretaker nazim of the Lower Dir district has taken an ugly turn with rival groups in the district council are laying claim to the post. The newly-installed district naib nazim, Zahir Shah, convened a meeting of the council soon after his election on Jan 5 to appoint a caretaker nazim of the district, but the session ended in a rumpus. Some councillors even tried to attack the convener during the meeting.

The district nazim election had ended in a draw between JI’s Rasool Khan and PPP’s Ahmad Hassan Khan in the Oct 6 local government polls. Since then, the case has been pending before the Peshawar High Court.

An alliance of the ANP, PPP, PML and JUI was supporting Inayatullah, while Jamaat-i-Islami, PPP-S, PML-N, and ANP dissidents were supporting Akhunzada Sultanul Mulk.

A caretaker nazim had to be appointed by show of hands. During the election process, Inayatullah was backed by 25 members, while Sultanul Mulk got the support of 24 members.

However, the contest was said to have ended in a tie when the naizm of Darnagal union council was disqualified.

The council convener stopped Ahmad Jan, the runner-up of Darnagal union council, from exercising his right to vote through a ruling, but a local court allowed Mr Jan to poll his vote. On this, the convener said that as the nazim of Manjayee union council, he voted for Sultanul Mulk and declared him elected as the caretaker nazim of the district.

The following day, supporters of Inayatullah forcibly occupied the district nazim office and declared him as the caretaker nazim.

Sources said that the chief minister and senior provincial minister were also having differences over the election of the caretaker nazim of Lower Dir district.

The local administration and police have failed to control the situation or strike a deal between the two groups.