CHITRAL: Some leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s local chapter have opposed a decision of the party’s district executive committee to boycott the visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to Chitral on Monday.

They termed the executive committee decision uncalled for, saying there was no reason to boycott the programmes of the governor, who belonged to their party.

Former JUI-F general secretary Maulana Abdul Shakoor, in a statement on social media, called the party’s executive committee decision an act of blackmailing, and claimed that the decision was not supported by the party workers at large.

Party organiser Nusrat Elahi said the decision would inflict a great loss on the party when the date for the general elections had already been announced.

JUI-F spokesman Qazi Naseem said the party’s district executive committee meeting held here the other day and chaired by district emir Maulana Abdur Rahman had expressed strong reservations about the visit as the local leadership was not taken into confidence about it.

The governor will reach here on Monday accompanied by the Higher Education Commission chairman to perform groundbreaking of the building of University of Chitral.

Meanwhile, Baba-i-Khowar Shahzada Hissamul Mulk Kamal-i-Fun awards were conferred upon 16 writers, poets and singers during a ceremony held in the Town Hall here on Saturday.

The ceremony was arranged by Anjuman-i-Taraqi Khowar, Chitral, with the financial assistance of a Spain-based businessman, Mohammad Nabi Khan, who hails from Chitral.

Shahzada Hishamul Mulk, Dr Inayatullah Faizi, Saeed Ahmed, Mehmud Ghaznavi, Abdul Wali Khan and Dr Shahzada Haiderul Mulk gave away the awards.

The recipients included Meherban Elahi Hanfi, Javed Hayat, Mueezuddin Bahram, Fareed Ahmed Raza, Ansaarullah, Qurban Zar and Khairuddin, while posthumous awards were given to the heirs of Rehman Diyar Khan, Fidaur Rahman Fida and Molvi Bacha Khan Huma.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2023