TIMERGARA: Scores of workers of Jamaat-i-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party on Sunday quit their parties and joined the Awami National Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

In Maskini Darra, a native village of JI chief Sirajul Haq, dozens of his party workers joined hands with the ANP during a function attended by a large number of locals.

The function was addressed by ANP former lawmaker Haji Bahadar Khan, Bakht Baidar Khan, Arshad Babu, Noor Mohammad and others. They said the ruling JI and PTI had failed to deliver according to their promises.

Also in the day, a total of 87 workers of the QWP parted ways with the party and announced to join the PML-N in Khadagzai village of Adenzai.

They made the announcement during a function which was addressed by PML-N leaders Farid Khan Yousafzai, Sajjad Ahmad, Inayatur Rehman and others. The QWP workers were led by Haji Abdul Karim and Saz Karim.

The PML N leaders criticised the coalition government of PTI and JI in the province and said people were disappointed. They claimed that the PML-N was the only party working for development and prosperity of the country.

SPRING FESTIVAL: A two-day spring festival concluded at Sarai Payeen on Sunday.

A local youth organisation, Sabaon Tanzeem-i-Noujawanan, arranged the event, where minister for finance Muzafar Said was the chief guest. Youth and players from different parts of Lower Dir displayed their skills in sports, art and music events.

Traditional games like ‘sakhy’, ‘kabaddi’, tug-of-war, ‘parzawal’, wrestling, painting, calligraphy and speech competitions were held.

On the occasion, the minister announced Rs300,000 for the organising committee of the spring festival, Rs500,000 for extension in local mosque, Rs10 million for construction of Anangoro-Sarai Payeen road and upgradation of government middle school, Sarai, to high level. Sabaon pattern-in-chief Mohammad Tahir Advocate announced Rs100,000 for the event organisers.

The minister distributed shields, trophies and cash among the best players of the event.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017