KOHAT: Thousands of disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists, including candidates who were denied tickets in the recent local government elections and former district president Malik Iqbal, launched an independent Haq Parast group here on Saturday.

The function in this regard was attended by a large number of team members, including Malik Rehan Afridi along with Haq Parast supporters from Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision, the women wing’s campaign leader Rehana Baji and workers from all the four tehsils of Kohat.

A cake was also cut by the team members at the function held at the hujra of Malik Iqbal where he said that he had resigned from the seat of district president three months ago after realising that injustice was being done with the ideological workers. He also referred to imposition of a particular ‘mafia’ of lawmakers and influential party leaders on them.

About health facilities in Kohat city, Mr Iqbal said Sangerh hospital was being run by an NGO and Liaquat Memorial Hospital (LMH) had been demolished for its reconstruction, which was inaugurated by former CM Pervez Khattak, MNA Shehryar Afridi and MPA Ziaullah Bangash in 2018.

He said that about Rs1.2 billion had been announced for construction of its new building, but after raising pillars the work was lying suspended since 2019. The KDA hospital is without MRI, CT Scan and other essential facilities and patients were being referred to Peshawar.

Mr Iqbal said they would put pressure on the chairmen for solution of problems of the district especially related to provision of gas, drinking water and health facilities.

Rehan Afridi claimed that he had been offered Rs5 million to withdraw his nomination in favour of PTI candidate in Darra Adam khel, but he refused though elections had to be cancelled there.

He urged the participants to attend the Haq Parast convention to be held in Dara Adam khel and show their power to the opponents.

PTI activist Shafi Jan, who got 27,000 votes as an independent candidate for city tehsil chairman slot, announced that the annoyed party workers would contest the 2023 elections under the banner of Haq Parast group.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2021