MANSEHRA: Tehreek-i-Sobah Hazara (TSH) has formed two separate committees to persuade the parliamentary parties in the National Assembly and Senate to play their role in creating a separate province for the Hazara division.

“More federating units are the need of the hour, and to pass resolutions for the Hazara province in the National Assembly and Senate we will hold consultative meetings with parliamentary leaders of mainstream political parties in the country,” Sardar Mohammad Yusuf, chairman of the Tehreek, told reporters here on Sunday.

He said that a series of internal meetings had been held within the Tehreek since November 2 this year culminating in a recent session in Islamabad, where two separate committees were notified.

“The national-level committee, which I head, will take up the Hazara province resolutions already submitted in the National Assembly and Senate with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, and other parties before tabling them for a vote,” Mr Yusuf said.

Sardar Yusuf says demand for province based on administrative considerations

He added that another committee would engage lawmakers from across the Hazara division to advocate for their cause. “We are also planning to open the Tehreek’s secretariat in Islamabad to energise our efforts for the Hazara province,” Mr Yusuf added.

The TSH leader said the demand for Hazara province was just and based on administrative considerations. “We have demanded a separate province on an administrative basis, not on linguistic or ethnic lines,” he said.

Mr Yusuf, who is a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA and a former federal minister for religious affairs, emphasised that political parties must take the issue of creating more federating units seriously. “If political parties want to steer the country out of the socioeconomic challenges it is facing, they should come together and deliberate on constitutional changes to address this issue,” he said.

ROAD BLOCKADE ENDS: Labourers working on the Dasu Hydropower project ended their week-long blockade of the Siglo Road on Sunday after representatives from Wapda and the Upper Kohistan district administration assured them of resolving their wage-related issues. The labourers had staged a sit-in on Siglo Road last week, blocking traffic and demanding an increase in wages, adjustments to working hours, and resolution of other grievances.

Assistant commissioner Mohammad Gulfaraz, tehsil chairman Maulana Mohammad Aziz and assistant director Wapda Mujeebullah held negotiations with the labourers’ leaders and convinced them to reopen the road.

Mr Aziz emphasised that successful negotiations required both parties to show flexibility and a sincere commitment to resolving outstanding issues.

The labourers’ leaders agreed to end their protest and hold discussions with Wapda to address their wage concerns in accordance with labour laws.

Wapda representatives also assured the labourers of a flexible approach and pledged to resolve all outstanding issues within the framework of the law.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024