MANSEHRA: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Friday suffered a setback as its key leader and former lawmaker, Nawabzada Fareed, announced that he would contest next elections in Oghi tehsil here as an independent candidate.

He, however, remained silent on whether he would continue to be part of the PTI or not.

“Our [PTI] so-called leaders, who misguided party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and led the party into a deep crisis through the May 9-10 violent protests, were quick to part ways with it after the start of police crackdown,” Mr Fareed told a public meeting in Shergarh area.

Participants included local elders, local body members, family members and other residents of his constituency.

It was Mr Fareed’s first public appearance after May 9.

“I don’t want to ruin my political career by contesting next elections on the PTI’s ticket and would like to go to the assembly again, this time around as an independent member, to serve my area [Oghi] and people,” the former lawmaker said.

His father, Nawabzada Salahuddin, was elected an MNA from the NA-2 constituency of Mansehra many times, while his brother, Nawabzada Hassam, is the chairman of the Oghi tehsil council.They were present in the public meeting along with chairmen of many village and neighbourhood councils.

Local body members and elders Arif Shah, Ashraf Tanoli, Akhtar Tanoli, Jamal Alvi and Atif Khan Swati appreciated Mr Fareed’s decision to contest next elections as an independent candidate and announced their support to him.

KILLED: A large rock from a mountain killed an elderly man in Upper Bapori area of Balakot tehsil here on Friday.

Mir Mohammad, 70, was crossing the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road when the rock rolling down the mountain hit him. He suffered critical injuries and died on the way to the hospital.

The police said they had registered an FIR before starting an investigation to ascertain the “exact” cause of death.

They said the deceased’s family claimed that at the time of the incident, Wapda officials were working on the main transmission line.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2023