LOWER DIR: Awami National Party general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain has insisted that Prime Minister Imran Khan has lost the confidence of the National Assembly as the opposition has support of more than 172 members, the mandatory number required for success of the no-trust resolution against the PM.

Talking to journalists in Chakdara the other day, he declared that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was taking its last breaths. He said the NA speaker had violated the constitution by calling the session after much delay.

Mr Iftikhar said the ANP was part of the combined opposition and would fully support the no-confidence resolution against the prime minister.

He alleged the prime minister had been violating the Constitution and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s poll code by paying frequent visits to the districts where the second phase of the local body elections were being held on March 31. He said the imposition of a Rs50,000 fine on the PM was not enough punishment. He said the ANP would emerge victorious during the LB polls in Malakand division.

ALLOWANCE DEMANDED: The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA), Lower Dir chapter on Monday demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to immediately issue a notification regarding the approval of 15 per cent disparity reduction allowance.

The demand was made during a meeting of the alliance held in Timergara with its district president Mohammad Saleem in the chair.

Speaking on the occasion, the AGEGA leaders said the federal government had increased the salaries of its employees by 15 per cent from March 1, and also directed the provinces to follow suit, but the provincial government was reluctant to issue a notification in that regard.

They said the government employees would come on roads if the notification was not issued immediately.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2022