Stiff competition: Mohmand boasts highest number of contestants

89 polling stations declared sensitive in NA-36.

GHALLANAI:

The NA-36 Mohmand Agency constituency has the highest number of contestants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

About 40 candidates will be contesting for the seat. Eight candidates have been awarded party tickets, while the rest of the 32 will be running as independents.

NA-41 has the second highest number of contestants with 38 candidates fighting for the seat. Some candidates in NA-41 have large vote banks with substantial financial resources, while a few of them barely had the money to submit their applications but are now launching their election campaigns.

NA-36 has 179,304 registered voters, including 119,259 males and 60,045 female voters. The constituency’s returning officer, Dr Amber Ali Khan, speaking from his office in Ghallanai, told journalists elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.

He said 107 polling stations have been set up where 767 men and women will perform election duties, adding 89 polling stations have been declared sensitive and 18 normal.

Mohmand’s political administration officials say levies and Khasadar personnel along with paramilitary troops will also be deployed to ensure security for voters and candidates.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2013.