TIMERGARA, Nov 14: Dozens of Pakistan People’s Party, Malakand division workers and leaders on Wednesday criticised the party’s ministers and parliamentarians over poor performance and ignoring them.

The criticism came during a workers’ convention at the PPP District Secretariat in Balambat area here.

District president of PPP Khurshid Ali Khan chaired the event, where provincial Technical Education and Mineral Development Minister Mahmood Zeb was also in attendance.

Besides Khurshid Ali, PPP district general secretary Khadim Jan, Samar Bagh president Rehmatullah, Balambat president Haider Bacha, former nazims Mohammad Ibrahim and Sher Mohammad and PSF leader Alamzeb Uthmani also spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said PPP was in trouble in the district due to the poor performance of its ministers and lawmakers and differences among them.

They said PPP was the country’s most democratic party and therefore, its leadership should follow democratic principles while nominating candidates for the next general elections.

The speakers warned that they would agitate if the leadership named candidates in Lower Dir for the next elections without taking them on board. They blamed Awami National Party for ignoring PPP workers in postings/transfers and development projects.

Minister Mahmood Zeb asked workers to show tolerance and maintain unity in their ranks.

He said workers were the real asset of the party and the leadership would not let them down in future.

The minister claimed that the party had completed record development projects in the region. He asked participants to attend the Nov 17 workers’ convention in Swat to make it a success.

PROTEST: Residents of Samar Bagh area on Wednesday protested the death of a local youngster, Usman, at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital due to the alleged absence of doctors and paramedics.

The protesters led by Jamaat-i-Islami leader Izazul Mulk blocked the main road in the area and staged a rally.

They said the youngster was taken to the hospital early in the morning but he died as neither doctors nor paramedics were on duty.

The protesters demanded strict action against the absentee staff of the hospital.

They later dispersed peacefully warning that they would agitate if their demand was not met.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: Speakers at a seminar on ‘violence against women’ on Wednesday urged the government, its institutions and civil society to provide equal opportunities of development to women and empower them economically in order to eliminate violence against them.

The seminar was organised by a local NGO, Rural Development Organisation, in collaboration with Strengthening Participatory Organisation in Balambat area.

The speakers said kidnapping, murder, domestic violence, harassment, acid throwing, burning and trafficking were the known kinds of violence against women and the rate of crime against women in the country was on the rise.

They said empowerment of women, repeal of discriminatory laws, provision of equal opportunities, posting of female clerical staff in education offices and women’s role in policy planning and management could help eliminate violence against women.