LOWER DIR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians chairman Pervez Khattak on Friday claimed that the mega development projects launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during his term as the chief minister had nothing to do with former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan.

He also insisted that Imran Khan was not sincere about people’s development, so he didn’t do anything to fulfil his ‘Naya Pakistan’ promise as the prime minister.

Addressing a public meeting in Talash area here, Mr Khattak claimed that he made the province’s police a model for others to follow, while the Billion Tree Tsunami afforestation project and the Sehat Card scheme were also launched by him as the chief minister.

He also said as the chief minister, he had got the province the Rs70 billion share in the National Finance Commission Award.

PPP leader Muzaffar Syed, political activists join PTI-P

The PTI-P leader said he repeatedly asked PTI leader and former communications minister Murad Saeed to construct a “model road” in the province but the latter failed to do so.

He said the “past rulers” did nothing for the people.

Mr Khattak blamed the PML-N, PPP and PTI for the current economic mess in the country saying the governments of those parties obtained huge loans leaving serious financial troubles for the country.

He said after coming to power, his party would work for peace, development and prosperity in the province, establish an industrial zone near the Koto hydropower station and construct irrigation channels, roads, schools and colleges in Dir region.

The PTI-P leader said he sought votes for his party on the basis of his performance as the chief minister of the province as well as the eligibility and competence of its leadership to deliver.

Earlier, PTI-P leader Mahmood Khan told participants that as the chief minister, he approved Rs5 billion for the Dir Motorway but the project came to a halt after the end of his government.

He said his party’s government would regularise the services of the Community Driven Local Development employees.

“We [PTI-P] will form the next government in the province and will have a big share in the federal government as well,” he said.

On the occasion, Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former provincial minister Muzaffar Syed along with former caretaker minister Malik Shafiullah, retired Brigadier Saeedullah Khan, former district councillors Hakim Khan of the JI and Syed Alam Shah of the PTI, PPP village council chairman Shahab Utmani of the PPP, Murad Khan of the JI, Barrister Aurangzeb Khan of the PPP, Haji Nazir Khan of the ANP and several other political activists announced the joining of the PTI-P.

Mr Muzaffar and other speakers expressed full confidence in the leadership of Mr Khattak and Mr Mahmood and said the PTI-P would form the next government in the province after winning elections.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2023