HARIPUR: JUI-F provincial chief Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman on Friday alleged that thePTI government had deliberately harmed national economy by following the agenda of world powers that had already targeted the country.

Addressing the ‘ulema convention’ a local mosque here, the JUI-F leader said the party would not only protect the country’s borders but it would also fight for Islam and ulema in the country.

He resented high inflation and said the working class, farmers and traders struggled to make ends meet.

Mr Rehman alleged that members of the ruling PTI had subjected the people to the unprecedented price hike only to receive kickbacks and the export of wheat and the subsequent orders for its import were enough to prove it. He said the government was targeting seminaries in the name of reforms but the universities and colleges were exempted.

The JUI-F leader said seminaries were being closed down to please the foreign masters of the rulers but such moves would be resisted.

He resented the condition of registration for the construction of seminaries and mosques.

Mr Rehman said the party’s ulema convention slated to be held in Peshawar on Feb 22 would highlight the issues and challenges facing seminaries.

TWO KILLED ON ROAD: Two bike riders were killed in separate road accidents, the police said on Friday. The police said the reckless driving caused the accidents. The Saddar police said Abdul Rehman, a 18-year-old resident of Pind Hashim Khan village, died of critical injuries after he rammed his motorcycle into a roadside tree on the way to home from Haripur city.

They said the deceased’s friend, Mohammad Imran, who was riding the motorcycle, suffered injuries and was shifted to the Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Khalid, 19, died of critical injuries after his motorcycle collided head-on with a van on the way to Sikandarpur village from Pharhala village.

His friend, Abdullah, who rode the motorcycle, suffered critical injuries. He was referred to the Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2020