MANSEHRA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Hazara division, president Zargul Khan on Saturday said the party had awarded election tickets to women in two of Mansehra’s five provincial assembly constituencies to end differences over nominations.

He also said no candidate had been fielded by the party in the National Assembly constituency, NA-13, to support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz dissident Salah Mohammad Khan.

Mr Zargul told reporters here that the PTI hoped that Mr Salah would defeat the PML-N candidate, most probably former MNA Sardar Shahjehan. The PTI divisional president, who is the party’s election candidate in NA-14, Mansehra, said Nawabzada Fareed was awarded ticket in PK-33, Zahid Chenzeb in PK-32 and Babar Saleem Swati in PK-31.

He said the party would sweep elections in the district. Mr Zargul said former opposition leader in the provincial assembly Shahzada Gustasab Khan and tehsil councillor Saeed Khan were fighting for PTI ticket in PK-34 and therefore, the ticket was awarded to Zahid Sabeel.

He said in PK-30, too, many eyed party ticket including former MPA Mazhar Ali Qasim, Mushtaq Mahandari and Taimur Raza and so, Maria Fatima was named the candidates to prevent discord.

Meanwhile, district returning officer of Mansehra Mohammad Zeb Khan has said the role of media is pivotal in ensure free, fair and impartial elections.

“We are firm in holding free and fair elections and welcome the media’s support for it,” he told reporters in his chamber on Saturday.

The DRO said the media would be provided with access to polling stations in elections to monitor the exercise. He said a control room had been established under the supervision of superintendent Syed Asif Shah, who would pass on the election-related information to journalists.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2018