CHITRAL: Special assistant to the chief minister on minority affairs, Wazir Zada, has said that the government is taking solid steps for speedy development of Kalash valleys.

Addressing a gathering of Kalash people in Rumbur valley here on Tuesday, he said while pointing towards himself that it was Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision that a Kalash youth was nominated as MPA against a special seat and then elevated to the position of special assistant.

He said that Imran Khan wanted to end the deprivations of Kalash people.

Mr Wazir Zada said that development works in different sectors were in progress in all the three Kalash valleys.

He said the National Highway Authority had completed initial formalities for construction of a road in the area.

He said that minorities in the country enjoyed full religious freedom of practicing their beliefs.

On this occasion, Mr Wazir Zada distributed assistance cheques among the Kalash religious leaders, widows and orphans on behalf of the provincial government.

FLOOD-HIT ROAD: Tahaffuz-i-Huqooq Upper Chitral general secretary Abdullah Jan has demanded of the government to take notice of the inordinate delay by C&W department in starting work on rehabilitation of the flood-hit section of road at Bumbagh.

Talking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, he said work on the site would not be possible at the end of March as the river water would rise to a high level inundating the affected site and the people would have to wait till next winter season.

He said the closure of road would disconnect the union councils of Kosht, Mulkhow and Terich from rest of the district.

TWO SUICIDE CASES: Two persons have allegedly committed suicide in separate parts of Chitral.

A mother of four allegedly ended her life by jumping into a river in Rabat village of Arkari valley on Tuesday morning.

A police official identified the deceased as Sharifa Bibi, 39, who was married to Itebar Shah of Rabat village.

He said the local police had started investigations.

In another such incident, a minor boy of 10 allegedly hanged himself to death on Tuesday in Pakhtoori village of Upper Chitral.

SHO Sahib Nabi told this scribe that the boy Ahmed Nawaz was reportedly forced by his parents to go to school.

He said that he was found hanged from a tree near his house in the afternoon.

He said the police had started investigations into the case.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2020