PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has rejected objections of Pakistan Peoples Party leaders about the bifurcation of Chitral district and said that the provincial government had approved creation of the second district but the plan was stopped by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, PTI Chitral district president Abdul Lateef Chitrali demanded of the ECP to remove the ban on creation of the new districts and tehsils so that the provincial government’s decision about Chitral bifurcation could be materialised.

He clarified that the bifurcation of Chitral was delayed due to imposition of ban on delimitation of constituencies by ECP, but the opponent parties were targeting PTI for the delay.

Referring to PPP MPA Saleem Khan’s objection that the provincial government had announced bifurcation of Chitral but did not materialise the plan, the PTI leader claimed that Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had initiated the bifurcation process of Chitral, but it was stopped after restrictions imposed by the ECP on delimitations.

He said the provincial government was fully determined to materialise its commitment to declare upper Chitral as a separate district. He said the provincial cabinet had given formal approval in that regard but it was stopped due to intervention by the ECP.

However, he said the PPP MPA Saleem Khan had taken up the issue to only gain political point scoring and to mislead the people of Chitral on the important matter.

Lateef Chitrali said the PPP leader remained as member of the provincial assembly for more than a decade but failed to raise voice for the rights of people of Chitral at the floor of the assembly.

He alleged that Rs2 billion funds meant for completion of the Lowari Tunnel had been diverted towards Multan during the previous government of PPP. On the other hand, he said the PTI government had undertaken practical measures for development of Chitral. He claimed that PTI would emerge as the largest political party by winning most of the provincial and national assembly seats to form the government again in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2018