Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party (ANP) has filed an application seeking adjustments in delimitations of constituencies announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The application, submitted by ANP leader Zahid Khan, raises objections against the newly-constituted Lower Dir constituencies NA-6 and NA-7. The two were previously a combined jurisdiction under NA-34.

Zahid, who has already been allotted a party ticket to contest NA-34, states in his petition that the delimitation ‘violates’ basic principles and guidelines and annexes union council wise population and draft list of the constituency of National Assembly of Lower Dir district.

The petition highlights that Union Councils Manjhai and Balambat, with a population of 40, 614 and 40, 146, respectively, were contiguous but were still separated into NA-6 and -7.

“[The] basic principles for delimitation must and should be regarding the distribution of the population and geographically compact areas, existing boundaries of administrative units, facility of communication and public convenience,” the petition submits, urging the court to direct the ECP to undo the changes in the delimitation of constituencies.

Bifurcate PB 12 to prevent tribal rifts: ANP MPA

Separately on Sunday, a ANP leader urged the ECP to divide Balochistan’s PB 12 Gulistan into two constituencies to prevent tribal rifts.

“Despite the court judgement on sensitisation of Gulistan, the ECP’s new delimitation of PB-12 can cause tribal rifts, endangering the lives of the people of the area,” said Engineer Zamrak Khan Achakzai, an ANP MPA from Balochistan Assembly.

“The honourable court directed the ECP to take tribal elders and all stakeholders into confidence before issuing new delimitation notification, but still the ECP took an unsolicited decision.”

He said that keeping in mind the sensitivity of the area, the ECP should restore PB-12 to its previous position (two constituencies) on immediate basis otherwise tribes in the area would clash with each other. “Such clashes have already claimed hundreds of innocent lives,” he added.

“The ANP has always attempted to keep a peaceful environment in the area and will continue to play its role until ECP addresses our plea,” said Achakzai, adding that he would approach the Supreme Court over the grievous issue.

Published in Daily Times, March 13^th 2018.