PESHAWAR: At least 56 elected representatives of local government including 50 nazims of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf handed over their resignations to a disgruntled MPA, Mehmood Jan, to submit the same to Election Commission of Pakistan to protest against Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for ignoring Peshawar’s PK-7 constituency.

Addressing a crowded news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, nazims Tajamul Hussain and Abdul Sattar said that PTI lawmaker from PK-7 Mehmood Jan tendered his resignation to protest unjust distribution of development funds.

“MPA from PK-7 is Mehmood Jan but funds are being utilised by workers of Qaumi Watan Party and Jamaat-i-Islami at the behest of Pervez Khattak.

Hand over resignations to Mehmood Jan in protest

It is not acceptable to us. We have resigned from our seats to express solidarity with the MPA as he is fighting for our rights and we will support him at all costs,” said Tajmul Hussain.

The nazims alleged that chief minister was not paying due attention to PTI members of the assembly and nazims. They said that PTI workers were forced to resign and hold protest demonstrations.

They claimed that all 10 MPAs from Peshawar were disappointed. They said that the MPAs from Peshawar were ready to resign in protest as chief minister was not giving them funds while QWP and JI workers, who had lost elections, were utilising development funds in different constituencies.

They claimed that nazims of other districts were also in contact with them and they would also resign in protest if chief minister did not change his attitude with the elected representatives of PTI.

Insaf Students Federation president for Peshawar region Inamullah Khan also said that students, nazims, councillors and other office-bearers of PTI would resign from their respective offices if provincial government did not remove grievances of the disgruntled MPA within 24 hours.

He said that tsunami plantation plan was launched by the provincial government but PTI workers had no powers to take part in the drive. He said that provincial government brought a bad name to PTI as whatever Imran Khan said was not implemented in the province.

“We will hold a rally outside the residence of PTI chairman Imran Khan so that he could intervene and resolve the core issues,” said Mr Khan.

He demanded of the PTI chief to take immediate notice of the alarming situation.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017