MANSEHRA: Parliamentary leader of the opposition PML-N in the provincial assembly Sardar Mohammad Yusuf has criticised the PTI government over failure to repair the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road and said many tourists didn’t travel to Kaghan valley due to the artery’s dilapidated condition.

“It is unfortunate that the PTI government hasn’t repaired the road leading to a major tourist attraction during the last around three years,” he told a reception hosted by residents, especially religious scholars, in Balakot tehsil on Monday.

The PML-N leader criticised local PTI MNA Salah Mohammad Khan for failing to get the road repair funds approved and wondered how he would serve the people of his constituency.

He said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister had approved Rs11 billion for the MNJ Road’s construction and Rs4 billion more for repairs after the 2005 earthquake damaged it.

PML-N leader says Kaghan tourism affected by bad artery

Mr Yusuf complained that the PTI government hadn’t approved a single mega development project for Hazara division, including Mansehra district.

He said the motorway built by Nawaz Sharif had put Hazara division on the way to development.

The PML-N leader appreciated the provincial assembly for approving his resolution seeking the government’s measures for the prevention and control of the blasphemy of the companions and family members of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and urged the other assemblies to follow suit.

SUICIDE: A former police constable committed suicide and two people lost life in separate incidents on Monday.

Raja Iftikhar of Mohallah Lohar Banda killed himself with a pistol.

The police shifted the body to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, whose doctors gave it to the family for burial after completing formalities.

The police said they had begun investigation to ascertain the cause of suicide.

In another incident, a jeep fell into a ravine on the way to Shungli Bandi from Oghi killing a minor girl.

The girl’s mother suffered critical injuries and was admitted to the civil hospital Oghi.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Naseeb was electrocuted in Cher Basikhel area of Torghar district.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2021