MUZAFFARGARH: A large number of people on Saturday gathered at the outhouse of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MNA Dr Shabbir Ali Qureshi and MPA Mohammed Ashraf Rind to celebrate the notification of upgrade of Kot Addu tehsil to district.

Beating drums, the locals chanted slogans in favour of PTI and its chairman Imran Khan.

According to the notification, the district status has been given to Taunsa Sharif, Murree, Wazirabad, Talagang and Kot Addu tehsils.

Talking to the media, Dr Shabbir Ali Qureshi claimed that the PTI chairman had fulfilled the promise he had made with him [Qureshi] in a meeting during his stint as prime minister.

Dawn has learnt that prior to the 2018 general election, the Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution sponsored by ex-MNA Malik Sultan Mahmood Hinjra, demanding district status for the tehsil.

Dr Shabbir Qureshi said the dream of Kot Addu people had been fulfilled as the area was deprived of many facilities because of [alleged] lack of interest by politicians.

Ex-chairman district council Malik Mohammed Afzal Hinjra claimed that the process of creation of district had been completed during the PML-N stint while the announcement was made in the PTI government.

MPA Mohammed Ashraf Khan Rind said soon PTI chairman Imran Khan would visit Kot Addu. He said Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) Zahid Akhtar Zaman had given a briefing on new districts in Punjab during a meeting held on Friday at chief minister’s office.

With the creation of new districts, Mr Elahi [in the meeting] said the health and other facilities would improve for the masses.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2022