PTI, PML-N dissident group forms govt in Balakot tehsil

MANSEHRA: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday formed government with the support of a dissident group of PML-N in Balakot tehsil on Thursday.

Both the nazim and naib nazims secured 16 votes each in a strong council of 19 councillors in Balakot tehsil. The Election Commission of Pakistan has fixed December 14 for voting on no trust motion last month after the PML-N nazim Rustam Khan and naib nazim Sardar Abdul Qudus were voted out with a majority. Ibrahim Ahmad Shah, who was elected tehsil nazim, had moved the no-confidence motion against tehsil nazim Sardar Liaqat following an agreement reached with the PML-N dissident group last month.

The PML-N leadership had fielded Arshad Zaman as its contender of office of tehsil and Sardar Abdul Qudus for office of tehsil naib nazim and both could secure three votes each. Fiaz Khan, Assistant Commissioner Balakot, acted as presiding officer for elections and announced the result at the end of polling.