TIMERGARA: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq is likely to run for National Assembly seat NA-34 Dir in the upcoming 2018 general elections, according to party sources.

They said that JI central and provincial ‘shuras’ (executive councils) had given approval under which the party chief would contest the next elections for National Assembly from Lower Dir. They said that JI provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad Khan would announce party candidates for provincial assembly next month.

Meanwhile, Sirajul Haq has condemned the US for declaring Syed Salahud Din, supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, as terrorist.

Addressing an Eid Milan party in Smar Bagh, the JI chief said that innocent Kashmiries were struggling for freedom and self-determination. He said that Salahud Din was fighting for freedom of Kashmir and had nothing to do with terrorism.

About Panama Leaks, the JI chief said about 600 corrupt people were involved in setting up offshore companies. He said that JI wanted fair accountability of all corrupt politicians and businessmen.

JI deputy chief Dr Iqbal Khalil, MPA Izazul Mulk Afkari, Lower Dir nazim Mohammad Rasool, Syed Musharaf Shah and others also spoke on the occasion.

Siraj said that government should include Chitral-Shindor road in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project as it was the safest route to connect the Central Asian Republics with Pakistan.

TWO KILLED: A boy identified as Fayaz Khan, a resident of Chat Pat village, committed suicide by swallowing poisonous pills here on Tuesday, residents and police said. Another youth was killed in a road accident in Asbanr area of Adenzai.

DAM: Adenzai Qaumi Jirga on Tuesday demanded of government to start construction work on proposed Sanam dam.

The demand was made during a meeting of the jirga held at Fishing Hut Chakdara with MPA Bakht Baidar Khan in the chair. PPP former district president Khurshid Ali, ANP district president Hussain Shah Yousafzai, JI Adenzai emir Dr Rahi Shah, PTI leader Ghulam Hussain, district and tehsil councillors spoke on the occasion.

They said that construction of Sanam dam would ensure development of agriculture and provision of jobs. They demanded of the government to satisfy the landowners as the dam would be proved a landmark for development of the area.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2017