SWABI, May 12: Leaders of various political parties have criticised the ruling Awami National Party for not initiating a single mega development project in Swabi district while claiming it to be the second home of Walibagh leaders.

They were speaking at a programme arranged by local journalists here on Saturday to review development of Swabi district.

Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan MNA Usman Khan Tarakai said that the ANP used numerous tactics to hoodwink voters and its leaders never fulfilled promises concerning initiating mega projects in Swabi.

Mr Tarakai, who defeated ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan in 2008 elections, said that Sui gas project for the district was sanctioned by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz on the request of former district nazim Shahram Khan Tarakai. However, he claimed that the ANP leaders blocked provision of connections to consumers, fearing the credit could go to Tarakai family.

Mohammad Usman, former Jamaat-i-Islami MNA, said that the ANP government loved to take credit for projects initiated in the district by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government and in this regard gave examples of Swabi-Topi road, Swabi-Jahangira road, Swabi-Zaida road, Topi bypass and some other projects.

“The ANP renamed Fazal Ali Model School as Swabi Model School. Let them establish a new English medium school or other institution in the district and we would welcome it,” he said.

Haji Manfat Khan, district president of Pakistan People’s Party, said that the ANP was the coalition partner of his party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and centre, but its leaders and ministers took unilateral decisions and did not consult the PPP leadership.

Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, district president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said that tobacco was the single major cash crop of the district and it was expected that the ANP government would take steps for the welfare of growers, but they imposed more taxes on the crop that would be easily transferred to peasants.

He said that it was Nawaz Sharif government that initiated a mega project of Pehur High Level Canal. The canal, he said, had already brought a green revolution in the district and efforts were underway to bring more land under irrigation system of the canal. Jehanzeb Khan, former district nazim who said goodbye to ANP recently and joined Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao, said that medical college, Abdul Wali Khan University and other numerous projects were initiated and completed in Mardan, but the Swabi bypass project was abandoned by the provincial government citing financial constraints.

“None of the projects in Mardan district was abounded by the ANP government for the same reason, which shows its double standard,” he said.

Tamraiz Khan, district general secretary of ANP, on the occasion claimed that Swabi was the stronghold of his party and they would again win majority of seats in next general elections.

“We are proud of the policies adopted by our government. In fact, only the ANP could sincerely work for safeguarding the rights of Pakhtuns and all other parties have been raising hollow slogans about their welfare,” he said.