NOWSHERA/CHARSADDA: A multi-party conference held here on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction over the government steps and said the announcement of ‘tiger force’ by Prime Minister Imran Khan for relief work was only tooblige its political workers.

The conference was called by the local chapter of Pakistan Peoples Party at the Hujra of PPP divisional president Laiqat Shababwhich was attended by information secratry of PML-N Ikhtiar Wali Khan, general secrtary Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F Hakim Ali Haqqani, president Awami National Party district Nowshera Jamal Khattak, Iftikhar Ahmad Khan of Jamaat-i-Islami, Waliur Rehman of Qaumi Watan Party and Irfanul Haq of JUI-S.

They vowed that the people of Nowshera would not be left alone in this critical time and they would support the local administration’s relief efforts in the district.

Meanwhile, Nowshera police arrested on Sunday dozen mosque leaders including district amir Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Qari Aslam who offered Friday prayers in mosques.

The JUI-F workers staged a protest against Nowshera Cantt police station and chanted slogan against them.

However, Qari Aslam was later released after a meeting between the assistant commissioner, SP investigation and JUI-F wrokers.

Another multiparty conference held in Charsadda the other day rejected the government’s ‘tiger force’ for distribution of relief among the lockdown-hit people.

It was attended by local leaders of all the political parties except JUI-F and PTI. A committee was constituted to hold meetings with the deputy commissioner to devise a strategy for controlling the spread of coronavirus in the district.

Chaired by Jamaat-i-Islami’s Charsadda chapter chief Mohammad Riaz Khan, the moot was attended by ANP’s Farooq Khan Shiekho, PML-N’s Mian Humayun Shah Kakakhel, QWP’s Qaiser Jamal Hashtnagri, trade alliance’s leader Habibullah, Muttahida shopkeepers federation’s Haji Sadiqullah, PPP’s Gul Waheed, former law minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah, former district naib nazim Musawwir Shah Durrani and others.

The moot discussed the outbreak of coronavirus in the country and measures taken by the government to contain it. They also discussed process of distribution of relief package among the affected families.

It demanded of the government to take leadership of all political and religious parties into confidence regarding distribution of relief items among the people hit by lockdown. It also stressed unity among the government and opposition parties to fight the deadly virus.

The MPC sought take action against the people responsible for opening the Taftan border for pilgrims from Iran without any preparations.

The meeting sought provision of all possible assistance to the medical staff and free testing facilities to the affected people.

It asked the government not to send utility bills for three months to the consumers.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2020