SWABI: As big guns of political parties have stayed away from contesting the by-election on two National Assembly seats in Swabi, only second-string candidates have filed nomination papers to vie for the seats, sources told Dawn here on Monday.

By-election on NA-18, Swabi-I, which was vacated after the resignation of former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, would be held on March 16, and NA-29, Swabi-II on March 19. The second NA constituency fell vacant after resignation of Usman Khan Tarakai. Both had won the seats on PTI ticket.

No political party has started an aggressive election campaign.

Shah Nawaz Khanzada and Nawabzada of Awami National Party, Gohar Ali of Pakistan Peoples Party, Asad Qaiser and his brother, Aqibullah Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Hashmatullah and Sheraz Khan of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have filed nomination papers for NA-18.

Besides, Feroz Khan, Sarfaraz Khan Jadoon, Wasim Shah and Ijaz Bacha have also filed papers as independent candidates.

Of these candidates, only Asad Qaiser is counted among the distinguished leaders.

A PML-N local leader told Dawn on condition of anonymity that there was no point in investing huge amounts in the by-election as win by any candidate would be short-lived as general elections were also scheduled during the ongoing year.

GAS, POWER OUTAGES: The consumers have flayed the authorities for subjecting them to prolonged and unscheduled electricity and gas loadshedding.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, they said Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited officials had failed to pay any heed to the woes of consumers.

The consumers said they had made numerous requests to the local Pesco officials to ensure smooth power supply, but to no avail. They said power outages had also caused water shortage.

Mohammad Shoaib of Zaida city said there was no electricity the whole Sunday night, and Pesco officials didn’t respond to residents’ calls to know the reason for long power outage.

Meanwhile, gas loadshedding is another big issue confronting the consumers in Swabi.

The consumers said gas supply suspensions had forced them to buy food from hotels. They said they couldn’t afford using the costly liquefied petroleum gas.

Abbas Ali of Maneri Bala said gas supply usually remained suspended in the evening and continued throughout the night.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2023