MANSEHRA: Prime Minister Imran Khan will address a public meeting in the Thakra Stadium here on March 25 (Friday) as part of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s campaign for the second phase of local body elections in the province, including Haraza division.

However, chairman of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari cancelled the March 24 visit to Mansehra city with the party attributing it to his hectic schedule in Islamabad due to the no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

Federal minister for railways Azam Khan Swati told reporters in the Thakra Stadium that the prime minister would deliver an ‘important message’ to the nation during the March 25 public meeting.

He said the PTI expected record attendance of the people in the gathering.

Accompanied by federal parliamentary secretary MNA Salah Mohammad Khan, the minister examined security and other arrangements in and around the stadium.

Bilawal cancels Thursday visit to city

Earlier, deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Bhittani visited the stadium, checked preparations for the March 25 event and directed the relevant officials for their early completion.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders met at the residence of MPA Babar Saleem Swati to discuss the prime minister’s visit.

The participants, including the railway minister, chief minister’s special assistant Ahmad Hussain Shah and others, decided that the prime minister would be accorded a warm welcome on arrival.

Meanwhile, PPP district president Malik Farooq revealed the cancellation of the visit of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to Mansehra city on March 24.

He told reporters that Mr Bilawal was to address a public meeting and preparations for it had already been completed but the party chairman decided to cancel the visit due to his activities in Islamabad for the no-trust motion against the prime minister.

Mr Farooq condemned the storming of Sindh House in Islamabad by the PTI activists and said such tactics by the ruling party won’t foil the anti-PM move.

POLL SECURITY: The police have finalised a security plan to ensure peaceful local body elections in the district on March 31.

“You have to strictly follow the election security plan and negligence in this regard will not be tolerated,” district police officer Sajjad Khan told deputy superintendents of police and SHOs during a meeting here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Rescue 1122 held a training session on emergency management for students and staff members of various schools in Balakot tehsil.

PML-N VICTORY: PML-N leader retired Captain Mohammad Safdar on Saturday claimed that the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the ‘selected’ prime minister would succeed.

Addressing a public meeting here, the PML-N leader said the people would vote for his party in the second phase of local body elections in the province, especially Hazara division.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2022