LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has said that cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran is need of the hour to foil US designs in the region

Addressing a rally in Chakdara here on Sunday, he said that few capitalists and landlords had besieged the 250 million Pakistanis for the last 76 years and it was time to get rid of them.

The gathering was also addressed by JI candidate for NA-7 Maulana Dr Mohammad Ismail, candidate for PK-15 Azizullah Khan, JI tehsil chief Bashir Mohammad, Syed Liaqatul Mulk and others.

Siraj said the nation witnessed the governments of PML-N, PPP and PTI in the past and none of them had the ability to steer the country out of crises. He said that during his tenure as senior provincial minister, the University of Malakand, BISE Malakand, Koto hydropower project, upgradation of local hospitals and establishment of new colleges were approved by the government.

JI chief blames major political parties for not fulfilling their promises

He said that JI wanted to rid the people of the slavery of International Monetary Fund and other global financial institutions. He alleged that major political parties like PML-N, PPP and PTI failed to fulfil their pledges made with the nation.

The JI chief alleged that the United States of America and its leadership wanted to inflict another war in the region that should be thwarted with unity of the nation. He said that JI would work seriously to bring all political parties on the table after the general elections. He said that cooperation among Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Gulf States was need of the hour to foil the US designs in the region.

Without naming anyone, he said that one of the leaders considered the slot of prime minister his ancestral property while another wanted to be made the prime minister for the fourth time.

ECP: Election Commissioner of Pakistan disqualified Balambat tehsil chairman Asim Shoaib of PTI and declared the position vacant due to his deliberate absence from his office without any solid reason. Asim Shoaib is in hiding as he is wanted by police for his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.

According to a notification, the post of Balambat tehsil chairman has been declared vacant for three years under section 78 (2) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2023, so all the people concerned should be informed for taking further course of action as per law.

An FIR was registered against Asim Shoiab on May 10 under sections 188, 189, 148, 149, 7ATA, 341, 380, 435, 427, 440, 295 B, 186, 324 and 355 of PPC.

SUPPORT: Alizai , Musakhel and Gujjar tribes in Jandol have announced to support JI chief Sirajul Haq, who is contesting elections for NA-6. The tribes made the announcements during different functions held in Samarbagh, Munda and Miskini Dara here the other day.

A tough contest is expected among Sirajul Haq, PTI former MNA Mohammad Bashir Khan and ANP former MPA Haji Bahadar Khan in this constituency. Mohammad Bashir Khan had won this seat in 2018 by obtaining 63,071 votes against JI chief Sirajul Haq, who secured 46,927 votes.

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024