MANSEHRA: A multiparty conference organised by the Tehreek-i-Subah Hazara here on Monday advocated for the creation of more federating units in the country.

Representatives of political parties and organisations attended the moot in large numbers.

PML-N leader and former district nazim Sardar Said Ghulam said the residents of Hazara division had been making a struggle for decades to claim the status of the province for their region.

He said the creation of more and more federating units would help address major administrative issues in the country.

Mr Ghulam said his party’s government in the centre was sincere about the cause of Hazara province.

Participants vow to continue peaceful struggle for Hazara province

“We will take other parties into confidence about the creation of Hazara and other provinces in the country,” he said.

Convener of the TSH Shahid Ali Khan said the organisation had developed a joint strategy in meetings with lawmakers of different political parties to table a resolution for Hazara province in the National Assembly.

He demanded action on a resolution adopted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly during the last PTI government.

“People of our region have rendered great sacrifices for the cause of Hazara province and will continue our peaceful struggle for it,” he said.

Trader leader Mohammad Hanif said if the federal government was sincere about addressing the country’s core economic and political issues, it should create more federating units.

Elder Arif Inkalabi said PML-N leader Mohammad Yusuf had been part of the movement for Hazara province for years, and therefore, he should take tangible steps for the cause after the formation of his party’s government in the centre.

Another speaker, Sultanul Arfeen, warned people were ready for peaceful protests to advocate for Hazara province.

“We have scheduled our meeting with lawmakers from the Hazara division for next week and will finalise our future line of action,” he said.

ROAD BLOCKED: Landslides on Monday suspended traffic by blocking an artery linking the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road with the Shogran tourist resort.

However, the Frontier Works Organisation cleared the Karakoram Highway, which was blocked at Kandia Chowk and in the Loter area.

The heavy rains continued to lash Mansehra, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas for the second consecutive day.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Ghulam Said Khan was elected the tehsil council chairman in Dasu tehsil of Upper Kohistan district.

He got 3,130 votes, while the runner-up was Saddam Hussain with 2,448 votes, according to poll results.

The office fell vacant after the incumbent, Mohammed Idrees, quit it to contest the Feb 8 general election. He was elected MNA as an independent candidate.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024