Daily Times

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday rejected the objections of the appellants against two preliminary declamations of constituencies of the district and considered only one complaint.

According to the ECP verdict, grievances against Abbottabad NA-15, and NA-16 were rejected while only one objection about provincial constituency PK-38 Abbottabad-III was accepted.

Twenty-one objections were registered including the complaint of National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbassi, former deputy speaker Sardar Yaqoob, Provincial Minister for Food Qalandar Khan Loodhi, PML-N Senator Barrister Javed Abbassi, tehsil member Iftikhar Khan and others.

The ECP only accepted the objection of Havelian Tehsil Council member Iftikhar Khan and ordered to cut three union councils – Ghari Phul Garan, Rajoya and Bandi Attai Khan – from PK-37 and add to PK-38 while union council Salhad be added into PK-37 from PK-38.

After the verdict, Senator Javed Abbassi has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the new declamation of the constituencies since, according to him, ground realities of the area had been ignored and new electoral constituencies formed.

Earlier in district Abbottabad, the list was finalized about four provincial constituencies including PK-36 Abbottabad, comprising the areas of Tehsil Bakot, Tehsil Loran and Patwar Circles of Tarnawai and Bandi Dhoonda. The PK-37 Abbottabad-II consists of patwar circles of Tehsil Havelian, Kokal Barseen, Jhangra, Bagan, Galyat, Orush circle, Chatri, Dhamtoor I, II and Nagaki.

The PK-38 Abbottabad-III includes Tehsil Lower Tanawal, Sherwan Patwar Circle, Chamhad, Kasakki Kalan, Pawa, Rach Bahan, Havelian Cantonment, Municipal Committee Havelian, Havelian Patwar circle, Jhangra patwar circle, Kokal, Baldheri, Banda Qazi, Gojri, Jhangi, Salhad I and II. While PK-39 Abbottabad-IV consists of Abbottabad Cantonment, Abbottabad Municipal Committee, Nawan Shar Town Committee, Nawan Shahr Western I and II, Nawan Shahr East I and II Shaik ul Bandi I and II and Banda Peer Khan.

Published in Daily Times, April 15^th 2018.