LOWER DIR: The Lower Dir chapter of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on Sunday demanded of the district administration to take action against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf workers for ‘disturbing’ the peaceful environment in the region.

Speaking at a news conference at the Timergara Press Club, JUI-F district chief Ameer Sirajuddin, provincial leader Qazi Ayazuddin, district general secretary Javed Iqbal, vice-president Maulana Mohammad Huzaifa and others said the PTI workers chanted slogans against a party office-bearer Maulana Saifur Rahim and also pelted stones on his car during a protest rally in Samarbagh the other day.

They said it was not the first incident as earlier the PTI workers had stormed a seminary in Timergara, insulted teachers and chanted slogans against JUI-F leadership.

They said all political parties, including PTI, had signed an agreement that no one would be allowed to chant slogans against opponents in rallies. They said the PTI workers were violating the agreement.

Mr Sirajuddin said it was responsibility of the district administration to stop such elements from disturbing peace.

He said top leadership of all political parties had condemned the attack on Imran Khan’s container in Wazirabad, and demanded impartial inquiry against the attack.

He said unfortunately instead of thanking the opposition, the PTI chief had levelled baseless allegations against his opponents.

LANDOWNERS REFUSAL: The residents of Garai Kas, Qillagai, Mata and Malala areas on Sunday announced they won’t let the government build the Dir University on their agricultural lands.

Speaking at a news conference, elders Dr Mohammad Khan, Malik Pervez Khan, Shah Naseem, Malik Ajab Khan, Barkat Ali and others complained the district administration wanted to seize their lands located on the bank of Panjkora River in Garai Kas for establishing a university.

The elders said a land dispute between the state and the landowners had been pending with the Peshawar High Court, but the district administration wanted to deprive them of their land by imposing Section 4.

The elders said rice, maize, wheat, vegetables and fruits were grown on the land, adding they were ready to donate their uncultivable lands for building the varsity.

They said the administration was sending survey teams for land demarcation, spreading panic and anger among local residents.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022