MANSEHRA: Local lawmakers of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N have threatened to resign if Wapda failed to restore power supply to Mansehra from Khan Khawar hydropower project immediately.

“We have been facing strong public criticism because of prolonged power outages triggered by diversion of power supply from Khan Khawar hydropower station. And if Wapda authorities don’t restore power supply to Mansehra from the power station, we will be left with no other option but to tender resignations from our parliament membership,” threatened MPA Salah Mohammad Khan, while speaking at a meeting in Oghi the other day, said the sources, having knowledge of the meet.

They said that the meeting was attended by PML-N lawmakers Salah Mohammad Khan, Wajiuzzaman Khan, Sardar Zahoor and Mian Ziaur Rehman.

The meeting which, according to sources, was also attended by PML-N office-bearers, decided to get involved high ups of party to settle the issue. They said that the participants expressed concern that if the current spate of power outages continued, PML-N would lose its public support in the division.

Meanwhile, Salah Mohammad told Dawn that the meeting was held to decide future line of action in view of the prolonged loadshedding, which had forced people out of their houses.

Mr Khan said that Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousuf had assured that the issue would be settled and that they were awaiting his response in that regard.

The lawmaker said that Hazara division, particularly Mansehra, was the stronghold of PML-N and that they would never allow anybody to dent the party’s popularity in the region.

HEAVY RAIN: Heavy rain on Friday turned weather pleasant in upper parts of Hazara, breaking hot spell continuing in the region for about two weeks.

The rain started in the afternoon in Mansehra, Battagram, Kohistan and other parts of Hazara and continued for an hour, bringing mercury down.

Syed Jabran Shah, a local resident, said that people had been suffering hot weather during Ramazan, and that the hour long showers were a welcome relief for them from the sultry conditions.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd , 2014