KHAR: Former MNA and candidate for NA-41, Bajaur, Shahabuddin Khan, has accused the deputy commissioner, who is also the district returning officer, of supporting a political party, and sought his transfer to ensure free and fair elections.

“The DRO is supporting a political party and I fear that there will be no free and fair elections if the official is not replaced,” he told reporters here on Monday.

The former PML-N lawmaker claimed that the deputy commissioner had created hurdles in execution of his development projects in the region for two and a half years.

Mr Shahabuddin slammed the provincial election commission for asking the provincial caretaker government to cancel the transfer of the deputy commissioner from the region, who along with eight other officials had been transferred by the provincial government in the larger public interest a few days ago.

Mr Shahabuddin had alleged last month that the deputy commissioner was using a bulletproof vehicle of his rival, Akhunzada Chattan of PPP, for the last several months. He had also held the DC responsible for delaying a number of his development projects, including construction of two degree colleges, to damage his image in the area.

Meanwhile, Mr Chattan rejected the claim that he had given a personal vehicle to the Bajaur deputy commissioner.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Peshawar meeting
Updated 16 Jan, 2025

Peshawar meeting

Dealing with Afghan Taliban is necessary not just for internal stability, but to ensure that Afghanistan not isolated regionally.
Cyber circus
16 Jan, 2025

Cyber circus

PAKISTAN’S cybercrime-fighting apparatus is proving rather good at harassing journalists and remarkably poor at...
Anti-abuse action
16 Jan, 2025

Anti-abuse action

IN what is a social minefield for women, the Punjab police investigation department’s decision to deploy 1,450...
Missing justice
Updated 15 Jan, 2025

Missing justice

SC must at least ensure missing persons cases are heard with the urgency they deserve.
Racist talk
15 Jan, 2025

Racist talk

WHEN racist tropes are amplified by the expansive reach of social media, the affected communities face real-world...
Faceless customs
15 Jan, 2025

Faceless customs

THE launch of the faceless customs assessment system as part of the government’s Tax Transformation Plan is a...