LOWER DIR: PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president and federal minister for water resources Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha on Monday said his party will form next governments in the province and centre.

He also said former prime minister Imran Khan was a “story of the past” and that PTI leader Haidar Ali Khan along with supporters would announce the joining of the PPP during a public rally in Swat’s Khwazakhela area on June 17.

Mr Bacha was addressing a workers’ convention at the Timer House here as the chief guest.

PPP workers from several parts of the district attended the event, which was also addressed by former party provincial president Najmuddin Khan, former senator Ahmad Hassan Khan, former provincial ministers Mahmood Zeb Khan and Muzaffar Syed, PPP provincial information secretary Amjad Afridi, former MPA Zamin Khan, former MNA Malik Azmat Khan and other leaders.

The PPP provincial chief said party chairman Bilawal Bhutto and other central leaders would address the June 17 Khwazakhela rally and announce the party’s programme for upcoming elections.

He said his party would form the next federal government after winning general elections with chairman Bilawal Bhutto leading it as the prime minister.

Mr Bacha claimed that the PPP forced Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration to announce a 30-35 per cent increase in the salary of government employees and extend tax exemption for Malakand region for another year.

He said if his party came to power again, the region would be declared a tax-free zone permanently.

The PPP leader criticised the PTI leadership for “promoting the culture of disrespect, blame game and derogation” in the country.

He said the PTI workers attacked sensitive installations and government property on May 9 and 10, so they won’t be pardoned.

KILLED: Two minor girls were run over and killed by a speeding mini-truck in Tora Tega area of Timergara here on Tuesday.

The girls were identified as Samreen, 10, and Sunehra, 5. The police arrested the driver, registered a case.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2023