Parties launch election campaign in North Waziristan

MIRANSHAH: Like other parts of the country, political parties in the restive North Waziristan tribal region have also launched the election campaigns for the lone National Assembly seat.
Candidates of several political parties have displayed party banners, bearing distinct slogans in their favour, in Mir Ali and Dattakel to draw the attention of the electorate.
In addition to former member National Assembly Kamran Khan and Maulana Naik Zaman, up to 39 candidates affiliated with various political parties are in the run from NA-40 Miranshah, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) is expected to announce its nominee for the seat after the executive council meeting likely to be held in the next two days. Maulvi Gul Ramzan, Aurangzeb Khan, and Peer Aqal Jan are among the strong contenders for the party ticket.
About the number of the registered voters and possible polling station and polling booths, an official of the election commission said there were 161,000 registered voters in Miranshah. He said the total exact number of registered voters in Miranshah tehsil is 31,800, Mir Ali 40,000, Dattakhel 38,000, Shawa 17,500, Spinwam 10,700, tehsil Ghulam Khan 6,800, Gharyum 2,000, Razmak, 5,000, Shawal 1,250 and tehsil Dosli 8,200.
The official said 62 polling stations would be set up, compared to 56 in the previous general elections, and if the law and order was satisfactory, the number of the polling stations could be increased to 90.