Candidates step up campaign for Mansehra local body offices.

MANSEHRA -- With election for the presiding officers of tehsil councils slated to be held on Wednesday, the candidates have stepped up campaigning.

They are meeting councillors to solicit votes for themselves and claim they will win the election.

Returning officers for the electoral exercise have already been notified by the district election commissioner.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's nominees will challenge independent candidates for the offices in Mansehra and Balakot local bodies.

However, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's party will contest that election in Baffa-Pakhal tehsil against the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl.

Election to be held on Wednesday

The PML-N had grabbed the tehsil council chairman's slots in Mansehra, Balakot and Baffa-Pakhal in last year's local body elections.

Now, the PML-N has fielded Nadir Khan for the presiding officer's election in Mansehra tehsil.

Also in the running for the office is independent candidate Malik Mumtaz, who is backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party, Qaumi Watan Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Jamaat-i-Islami.

For the post of the Balakot tehsil council's PO, former PML-N deputy tehsil nazim Liaquat Khassan and independent Sajid Khan are the candidates.

In Baffa-Pakhal, the PML-N has fielded Shabbir Khan Swati against JUI-F nominee Umar Haroon for the presiding officer of the tehsil council.

Chairmen of the village and neighbourhood councils can cast vote in the election as they're members of tehsil councils by virtue of their offices under the law.

The councillors elected on seats reserved for women, religious minorities, youths and peasants are also eligible to participate in the elections.

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