ISLAMABAD: Two independent candidates from tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohsin Dawar and Muhammad Ali Wazir, who were elected MNAs in the July 25 elections, have hinted that they will keep their independent status unchanged.

Addressing a press conference here at the National Press Club, they said they would raise their voice on the floor of the house for rights.

Mr Dawar and Mr Wazir, who had remained active in the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and won the elections from NA-48 (North Waziristan) and NA-50 (South Waziristan), respectively, said they had promised people of their areas that their issues would be raised in the assembly with full force.

The MNAs-elect said that at present they were maintaining their independent status but could decide at a later stage whether to join the opposition or the treasury benches.

They said people of tribal areas through the power of their votes had broken the politics of the status quo.

The two expressed the hope that the incoming government would pay special attention to welfare of people of tribal areas.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018