Mardan to see thorny contest

MARDAN: Tough competition is expected among the candidates of Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamiat-Ulema-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on 42 polling stations in nine union councils in the district today.
The district administration has beefed up security to avert any untoward incident. According to unofficial results, PTI and ANP bagged 21 seats each, independents won 16 seats, JUI-F six, PPP four seats, JI two seats while PML-N one in the May 30 local government elections in Mardan.
The ANP and PTI are claiming to have majority for forming the district government. The Election Commission has made all arrangements for re-polling. According to the sources, ANP-nominated Himayatullah Mayar for district nazim slot and PTI nominated Farooq Umar Kakakhel for district nazim seat.
The parties have started lobbying to drum up support for their candidates in the re-polling. The local government elections were held in 74 union councils of the Mardan district on May 30.
District Returning Officer (DRO) of Mardan Shahidullah Khan had announced results of the union councils. However, later he wrote a letter to the Election Commission and provincial government stating that massive rigging was committed in the local government elections in the district.
The Election Commission announced re-polling on 42 polling stations of nine union councils. The union councils where re-election will be held include Mayar Union Council, where election will be held on two polling stations. Total 1,997 voters will cast their votes in the re-polling.
According to the unofficial results, Himayatullah got 2,836 votes while his opponent candidate Mujahid Bacha polled 2,428 votes. Himayatullah Mayar has 408 votes lead against his opponent.
On Tehsil seat Malik Ayaz of JUI-F got 2,527 votes and PTI candidate Amjad Khan polled 1,901 votes. Malik Ayaz is leading with 626 votes. However, the DRO didn’t announce the result of the polling station at the Government Girls High School and postponed the results.