August 4, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24,1423

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HANGU, Aug 3: Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao) chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has asked the government to lift ban on political activities and create an environment favourable for holding the polls.

“Lifting of ban on political activities would be enough assurance to the people that the government is serious in holding the elections, besides ensuring a sizable turnout of voters,” Sherpao said at a public meeting held at the Togh Serai area on Saturday.

He also asked the government to release financial grant to the Frontier which was given to the other three provinces for the presidential referendum in April.

“During the past 23 years, the province has suffered beyond its capacity owing to the excessive burden of the Afghan refugees on its fragile infrastructure,” he said.

The ex-chief minister demanded of the government to announce a financial package for the southern districts of the province to allay the sense of deprivation there.

The rising prices of essential commodities and growing unemployment over the past several years have driven the poor to the corner. No proportionate increase in the income of the suffering masses has been registered, he observed.