SHANGLA: The bifurcation of Kohistan district has split the people of Palas tehsil with some favouring it and others opposing it.

The pro-bifurcation elders of the tehsil held a jirga in Bisham area of Shangla district on Monday and accused local MPA Maulana Asmatullah of deceiving the local residents on the issue.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld the provincial government’s notification of dividing Kohistan into Upper and Kohistan districts.

In 2014, the Peshawar High Court had rejected the notification on the petition of the residents of Palas.

Addressing the jirga in Bisham, local elders favouring Kohistan bifurcation said local lawmaker Maulana Asmatullah had opposed the creation of Lower Kohistan district to serve own political interests and that he cheated the local residents on the matter.

Pro-bifurcation elders accuse local MPA of deceiving people

They also alleged that the MPA pitted the people of Palas and Pattan against each other and thus, causing tensions in the region.

The elders said they won’t accept the decisions or moves of the lawmaker on the matter and would resolve the related issues by themselves.

They welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Kohistan bifurcation notification and said it would usher in an era of progress and development in the region.

The elders asked the government to send the administrative staff members to the new district to eliminate hurdles to its development without delay.

They demanded the early holding of local body elections in both Upper and Lower Kohistan districts.

The elders also called for the creation of Abasin division comprising Lower and Upper Kohistan, Shanlga, Battagram and Torghar districts.

SNOWFALL: Snowfall and rains continued intermittently in Shangla district on Monday.

Upper parts and plains of the district have been receiving snowfall and rains respectively for the last nine days.

Besides lowering temperature in the region, the inclement weather also caused suspension of electricity supply in Bisham city to the misery of the people.

The blockade of links roads was also reported in the district due to heavy snowfall inconveniencing motorists and commuters, including the users of the Karakoram Highway.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2017