MOHMAND: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq on Thursday said the release of Toshakhana records had exposed the “real faces” of political leaders, who ruled the country for decades.

Addressing a public meeting in Mian Mandi Bazaar here, Mr Haq said the PML-N, PPP and PTI governments were also involved in massive corruption and the Kashmir “sellout” and failed to do anything for the people’s socio-economic welfare.

He resented the growing prices of essential goods and said the International Monetary Fund had enslaved the country.

The JI chief said his party would continue raising voice for the rights of tribal districts, whose basic infrastructure was destroyed during the war on terror.

JI chief resents rising inflation

He demanded of the federal government to implement the pledges made with tribal people at the time of the merger of their region with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The other speakers, especially chairman of Tribal Rights Movement Shah Faisal Afridi and JI Mohmand chapter emir Saeed Khan, demanded early reconstruction of houses, roads and water schemes in the tribal region.

SASTA BAZAARS: The district administration has said it will establish three Sasta Bazaars and eight fair price shops in different tehsils of Mohmand to provide flour and other essential items to the people at subsidised rates during the fasting month of Ramazan.

Deputy commissioner Dr Mohammad Ehtishamul Haq told Dawn on Thursday said the Sasta Bazaars would be set up under the Ramazan Package announced by the government and on the special directives issued by the provincial chief secretary and that quality goods would be sold 10-20 per cent less than their market rates.

“We [officials of administration] have held meetings with wholesalers of fruits, vegetables and grocery items and got the assurance that they have sufficient stocks of consumer items to cater to the people’s needs all through the month of Ramazan,” he said.

The DC said the Sasta Bazaars would be set up in Baizai, Upper Mohmand and Lower Mohmand sub-divisions, while eight subsidised flour points would be put up in Prang Ghar, Ambar, Pandiali, Ekkaghand, Haleemzai, Safi, Khewazai and Baizai tehsils.

“From meat to vegetables to fruits to flour to cooking oil, all essential items will be available in these bazaars at rates 10-20 per cent less than the market’s. The prices will be even less than the weekly bazaars’,” he said.

Dr Haq said all Sasta Bazaars would open five days before the start of the month of Ramazan, while a special price control mechanism had been put in place in the district.

He said assistant commissioners were tasked with checking profiteering in markets.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2023