SWABI: The PML-N activists here have complained that they’re getting more and more frustrated for being neglected by the party’s central and provincial leaderships.

They told Dawn requesting anonymity that provincial president of the party Amir Muqam had neglected Swabi district’s development and was spending most of the federal government’s development funds at his disposal in his own district, Shangla.

The PML-N activists also complained about the rising prices of essential commodities and utilities and said high inflation had dented the party’s popularity.

They said the Rs170 billion taxesto be imposed after the approval of the mini-budget would drive the people further away from the PML-N, especially when elections were around the corner.

Insist high inflation dented party’s popularity

Some PML-N leaders, however, insisted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration was set to lift the banon new gas connections – a move that would help the party run election campaigns.

They said they’re running a “full-fledged” campaign on social media about the imminent end to that ban.

When contacted, former MPA Babar Saleem saidthe last PTI government had ruined the economy, so PM Shehbaz Sharif’s administration was going to impose new taxes to stop the country from defaulting on payments.

He said the federal government was committed to the early revival of the economy.

DONATION CAMP: The Awami National Party has established a camp in Topi tehsil to collect donations for relief efforts in earthquake-hit Turkiye and Syria.

ANP candidate for the NA-18, Swabi-I constituency Shah Nawaz Khan inaugurated the camp.

He urged the people to come forward for the help of disaster victims.

Mr Khan said the camp would last a few days.

Meanwhile, the District Islahi Jirga held a meeting here on Saturday and said it would take local body members along for restoration of peace and resolution of disputes.

New president of the jirga Faizul Hayat Khan said ever since its formation in 1985, the body had been furthering the cause of peace and harmony in the district besides resolving the people’s dispute, especially blood feuds, and would continue doing so.

THREE INJURED: Three people were seriously injured as two motorcycles collided head-on in Maini Sogandi Chowk here on Saturday.

Personnel of Rescue 1122 shifted the injured to the tehsil headquarters hospital, Topi.

The injured included Amir Umar, 22, Mahmood Umar, 21, and Abu Zar Umar, 19, and belonged to Gulbahar Maini area.

The police said speeding caused the accident.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2023