MANSEHRA: Political adviser to the chief minister and PTI leader Zargul Khan unofficially became the member of the provincial assembly from PK-63 Kohistan constituency as no one filed nomination papers against him in line with a local jirga’s decree for the May 11 by-election.

“Only Zargul Khan and his covering candidate (his brother Shareen Gul) filed nomination papers for the by-election until the specified time today (Monday),” returning officer for the PK-63 Kohistan constituency Zeeshan Khan told reporters.

He said Zargul Khan had emerged as MPA as no one formally opposed him by filing nomination papers.

Mr Zargul thanked the people of Kohistan, especially Palas area, over his unopposed election.

Accompanied by former MPA from the constituency Maulana Asmatullah and members of Kohistan jirga, Mr Zargul told reporters in Dasu area here that the JUI-F and Qaumi Watan Party tried in vain to field own candidates as no one from the constituency agreed to propose and second their candidatures in line with a jirga’s decree favouring him.

No one filed nomination papers against Zargul in line with a jirga decree

Maulana Asmatullah of the JUI-F had resigned as MPA in line with a jirga’s decision to favour Mr Zargul as his successor over his efforts to win the district status for Kolai-Palas from the provincial cabinet.

MORE PROVINCES FAVOURED: The PTI favours the creation of 15 more federating units in the country, including in Hazara division, on administrative basis and not on linguistic and territorial basis.

This was stated by adviser to the chief minister on information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani during the Mansehra Press Club office-bearers’ oath-taking ceremony here on Monday.

The CM adviser said the creation of new provinces would strengthen federation and ensure effective resolution of the people on their doorstep.

“Our government got a resolution favouring Hazara province passed in the provincial assembly in 2014 and dispatched a copy of it to the federal government for further action but the PML-N government is not sincere about creating Hazara province and other federating units in the country,” he said.

Mr Ghani said the federal government should move a resolution in both houses of parliament in favour of the creation of Hazara province in line with the longstanding demand of the local residents.

He said the Chinese government would execute an over $40 billion development project in the province to drastically improve the lifestyle of the people.

The CM adviser also said his government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government for the creation of a separate route between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan that would contribute a lot to the development of the province.

PROTEST HELD: Scores of people held a protest demonstration in Kaghan valley on Sunday demanding market rate for their land being acquired for 840 megawatts Suki Kanari hydropower project.

“We will not allow the start of work on the project until all our demands are met. We will also block Kaghan Road for indefinite period from April 20 to press for our demands,” PPP divisional president Ahmad Hussain Shah told protesters in Palas area here.

Tehreek-i-Sooba Hazara chairman Baba Haider Zaman, former federal minister Qasim Shah and former MPA Mazhar Qasim also spoke on occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2017