SWABI: Awami National Party provincial president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Wednesday called upon the party leaders and workers to get ready for elections to sink the ‘hollow slogan’ of change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forever.

He was addressing a public meeting at Bamkhel here which marked the launch of a full-fledged campaign for the upcoming elections in the district. The gathering was attended by former provincial ministers, MPAs and workers from across the district as a show of strength.

Mr Hoti said the contesting candidates had already got tickets and now needed to concentrate on mass contact campaign.

He called upon the party leaders and workers to shun their differences and work with complete determination for the party’s win in the polls.

“No doubt the future belongs to ANP. We will form the next government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

Mr Hoti said PTI had failed on all fronts and made only hollow slogans to mislead the people.

DEATH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED: The 12th martyrdom anniversary of ASP Salman Ayaz was observed on Wednesday.

A public meeting to this effect was held at Jhanda village attended by DIG Mardan Region Mohammad Alam Shinwari, DIG Hazara region Mohammad Saeed Khan Wazir, DPO Swabi Sohail Khalid, SSP Saleem Marwat, Brig (r) Ayaz Khan, father of the deceased, and political leaders.

ASP Ayaz was martyred during an encounter with outlaws when he was leading a police team after raiding a house at Kohala Khurd village on Chakri Road in Rawalpindi on Jan 17, 2006.

The officials and political personalities visited the mausoleum of the official and laid floral wreaths on the grave. They also offered Fateha for the departed soul.

WATCHMAN KILLED: The robbers killed a watchman after he resisted their attempt to loot shops at Zaida main market on the previous night, said police.

Said Asghar alias Saidan had performed his duty at Zaida main market for last several decades and due to his bravery he was famous across the area.

It was learnt that at 2.30am robbers arrived in the market to loot shops at Fish Chowk, but the watchman resisted them, forcing the robbers to open fire, killing him on the spot. An FIR has been registered against unidentified robbers at Zaida police station.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2018