KHYBER
Nine minority candidates including two female have filed their candidatures in Landi Kotal to participate in the first ever local bodies’ election to be scheduled on December, 19, 2021.
The non-Muslim candidates, mostly from Christian community have submitted their nomination papers on reserve seats for minority.
Out of 36 village councils(VC) and neighborhood councils(NC), Christian candidates have submitted their candidates on 08 minority constituencies of neighborhood councils (NC 1 to NC 05) while one non-Muslim contender have filed their nomination paper from village council 17,Khyber Zakha Khel.
As per Assistant Commissioner who is also returning officer, Landi Kotal, the entire tehsil has been divided into 36 councils, comprising 31 village councils and 05 neighborhood councils.
In 36 minority reserved seats only nine Christen have filed their nomination papers and the rest of seats have remained vacant because mostly the non-Muslims (Christians) live in the premises of neighborhood councils.
Minority Alliance Pakistan executive member and elder of local Christian community Arshad Maseeh while providing details said that approximately 1000 persons comprising 150 families of Christian reside in the Cheeragh colony,Landi Kotal Bazaar, forces cantonment and Christian colony,Khuga Khel.
Their representation (reserved seats) in the local bodies is negligible and they have convoyed their grievance to the election commission, he added.
It is to be mentioned here that 24 persons have filed their nomination papers for tehsil mayership although, a total of 829 candidates have submitted their candidatures for general councilors, youth, woman, minority and peasant/worker seats.
In the first phase, the election commission will conduct local bodies’ election in 17 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
