LOWER DIR: Leaders of various opposition parties here on Tuesday announced to resist the expected visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan to the district where the local government elections were scheduled to be held on March 27.

       In this regard, the Lower Dir chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami organised the multiparty conference in Timergara with its district chief Izazul Mulk in the chair. Arshad Zaman of JI, former district nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan, PPP district president Mehmood Zeb, JUI-F district chief Sirajuddin, PML-N district president Farooq Iqbal, ANP senior vice-president Malik Sajjad Yousafzai, Shah Khaizar Khan of QWP and Anjuman-i-Tajiran,Timergara, president Haji Anwaruddin spoke on the occasion.

       Chief Minister Mahmood Khan visited Upper Dir on Tuesday and addressed a workers’ convention there while a day earlier federal minister Pervez Khattak also addressed such a convention in Timergara.

       The ECP had turned down a request of the CM to visit Upper Dir while it had asked the district administration not to allow Prime Minister Imran Khan to address a public meeting in Lower Dir on Jan 27.

       Terms visits by CM, ministers violation of election rules

       The multiparty moot termed the visits by chief minister, defence minister Pervez Khattak and other ministers and advisers a clear violation of the election rules. They said the PTI leadership had ignored the district for the last three and a half years.

       The speakers said the rulers suddenly started visits to the district when the ECP announced its schedule for the LG elections in the second phase.

       According to a joint declaration, the conference demanded of the administration to ensure a ban on visits of the prime minister, chief minister and other ministers to the district ahead of the LG polls.

       It also demanded an immediate ban on postings and transfers in government departments. The conference noted that electricity poles and transformers were being distributed as political bribes that should be checked.

       The participants observed that several development projects like the Koto hydro power project, establishment of Timergara Medical College and construction of Talash and Chakdara bypass roads were yet to be completed despite the passage of several years.

       BUTCHER HELD: The local administration on Tuesday arrested a butcher for selling meat of a dead cowin Odigram area of Lower Dir. Assistant commissioner, Timergara, Sadiq Mohmand along with officials of Halal Food Authority raided a butcher’s shop and confiscated the meat sold to the customers. The butcher was arrested and sent to jail.

       Meanwhile, two persons identified as Tajuddin and Talha, residents of Sahibabad, were injured when the vehicle of MNA Sahibzada Sibghatullah allegedly hit them on Wari road on Tuesday.

       Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022