KHAR: MNA Shahabuddin Khan has blamed the political administration of Bajaur Agency for creating hurdles to execution of development projects in his constituency.

Talking to journalists during inaugural ceremony of the newly constructed Pashat-Taran Road in Salarzai tehisl, he alleged that senior officials were responsible for delaying several development schemes in the region. He said that political agent and a senator hatched conspiracy against him.

The PML-N lawmaker said that construction of two degree colleges in his constituency, approved in 2014, had been delayed for two years owing to the conspiracy hatched against him by the political agent.

Mr Khan said that the political agent had nothing to do with construction of colleges as the schemes were approved by the then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Mahtab Ahmad Khan on his request.

He said that a number of development schemes, approved from his funds, were also delayed owing to the opposition of the officials. He said that he didn’t know as to why the officials were opposing him.

The MNA said that local administration had become the major hurdle to execution of development schemes in his constituency. He added that officials had launched an organised campaign against him.

Mr Khan said that he had no personal differences with the officials in the agency but his efforts for implementation of Fata reforms package might have angered them. He added that he would continue his struggle to rid the agency of the colonial system of governance and corrupt officials.

The MNA said that at least Rs600 million, allocated for education sector in tribal areas, got lapsed during the last financial year due to incapability of the officials of Fata Secretariat.

He also criticised governor and other authorities concerned for not taking action against corrupt officials in tribal areas. He asked the leadership of the ruling PML-N to take notice of delay in development schemes in the agency.

The local people, PML-N workers and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority attended the inaugural ceremony.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2017