Man of the people: LG candidate from Khazana shot dead

With no party affiliation or money, Nasarullah was still considered a shoe-in

PESHAWAR: An independent candidate for the general village councillor seat in the forthcoming local government elections and his friend were shot dead while they were campaigning in Khazana Saturday night.

Nasarullah, a resident of Khazana, and his friend Nazeem were shot dead by unidentified masked men. According to the police, both men were busy campaigning and were returning home after door-to-door visits to meet voters when two masked men intercepted them and shot them.

“Nasarullah was killed on the spot while Nazeem was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital where he died,” said an officer of the local police station. He added an FIR had been registered against unidentified miscreants. His family has nominated no one in the FIR as they say they have no enemies.

“Nasarullah was an independent candidate and had no affiliation with any party,” said the Khazana police officer.

According to locals, Nasarullah was a mason by profession. He had once stood for a seat in elections and had been unsuccessful. His family and friends said they encouraged him to run this time as people thought he was a dependable candidate.

He did not come from money, said another friend of Nasarullah’s who is also contesting LG elections, but from another village council. “But he was a popular figure; people expected him to win.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2015.