SWABI: The residents of Kotha union council have removed the name of ruling PTI engraved on a monument built at a local thoroughfare during the previous night, the police and PTI leaders said on Sunday.

The locals had contended that the tehsil municipal administration, at the behest of PTI leaders, had written name of the party on the monument built at the Safdar Chowk, instead of retaining its old name.

It merits a mention here that Safdar Chowk was named after Safdar Zaman, a local leader killed at the chowk in a road accident in 1985.

His family is still very dominant in the area and has opposed the PTI move.

The monument was constructed by Topi TMA at a cost of Rs1 million, renaming the chowk, which was strongly opposed by the local people.

When contacted, Sohail Yousafzai, Tehsil Topi Nazim, told Dawn the police wanted to register an FIR against the unidentified people for removing the PTI name, but he had opposed the idea. He said the monument was part of a beautification drive in the area. He said along with the PTI name the old nomenclature of the chowk would also be retained. But, he said the local people had taken steps in a hurry, probably at the instigation of some elements.

The nazim said a major portion of the project was yet to be completed.

However, PTI rivals said the incident was caused by wrong approach and policies of the ruling party leaders who were responsible for the confused scenario. They questioned the sagacity of the PTI leadership to change the old name of the chowk.

Javid Zaman, late Safdar Zaman’s cousin, said the people of Kotha were infuriated at the renaming of the chowk.

YOUTH’S ROLE IN UPLIFT: PTI youth wing leaders on Sunday said the role of youth was critical in shaping the country’s future.

Speaking at a meeting, the youth wing’s district president Shahzada Fahad said PTI chairman Imran Khan had stressed youth’s role and their contribution to the country’s progress. He said motivating the youth and putting them on right track was one of the objectives of the PTI.

He said the youth’s role in the upcoming general elections was going to be very critical.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2017