GHALANAI: PTI legislators Ali Mohammad Khan and Qaisar Jamal Khan have called for holding local government elections and abolishing Frontier Crimes Regulation in the tribal areas.

They were speaking at a public gathering at Ghalanai on Sunday. PTI workers from Bajaur and Mohmand attended the gathering. On the occasion, elder Haji Jalat Khan from Ghalanai joined PTI along with his family and supporters.

MNA Qisar Jamal, who is from FR Kohat, pointed out that of 5,600 educational institutions in Fata, over 1,000 were closed, adding the tribesmen faced lack of education and health facilities.

He also said Fata lacked sincere leadership to resolve problems of tribesmen.

On the occasion, Ali Mohammad Khan from Mardan accused the other parties’ leaders of deceiving the tribesmen.

PTI workers were carrying party flags and chanting slogans of ‘Go Nawaz Go’, and ‘Go FCR Go’.

The MNA accused the Fata parliamentarians of always being on sale and not standing by their voters.

He warned political agents and assistant political agents to facilitate the tribesmen instead of creating problems for them. The PTI lawmaker alleged that appointments of political agents and assistant political agents were made in violation of merit.

He demanded that NAB start accountability of all APAs and PAs in the tribal areas. On the occasion, PTI Mohmand president Sajid Khan accused the local parliamentarians of taking no interest in resolving public issues.

He alleged that the local administration officials only entertained the influential tribal elders, and had no regard for the common man. He said the region faced prolonged power loadshedding due to which local economy was suffering. He said the agency headquarters hospital had no specialist doctor.

Sajid Khan demanded that Pak-Afghan trade route should be reopened so that problem of unemployment could be overcome. He said that tribesmen wanted socio-political reforms to ensure prosperity in the region.

The PTI leaders also flayed the Levies personnel for not serving the tribesmen. They complained that over 100 schools had been closed down under the rationalisation policy, which was unjust and uncalled-for.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2016