LOWER DIR: Hundreds of civil society members, lawyers, political activists, elders and young people on Monday staged a “peace march” in Timergara.

Carrying white flags and placards and shouted slogans, the participants demanded peace in the region.

The Dir Olasi Pasoon, a citizens’ body promoting peace and development in the area, organised the event.

The organisers said the event was held to mobilise residents for maintaining peace in the district after the growing incidents of militancy in the Maidan area.

They said the frequent incidents of target killings and attacks on security forces in Maidan had forced peace bodies to raise voice against militancy.

Oppose proposed military action against terrorists

PTI activist Ali Shah Mishwani, Jamaat-i-Islami district information secretary Shoaib Ahmad and other activists addressed the rally at the Timergara Shaheed Chowk.

They condemned the killing of Sheikh Inamullah and attacks on security forces in Maidan and declared them a bid to sabotage peace in the region.

The speakers also opposed the federal government’s plan to launch an anti-terrorism operation, especially in parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

They said that Dir residents won’t leave their area for the proposed military action against terrorists.

The speakers said the people of Dir couldn’t bear militancy or military operation.

They said the government should spend the anti-militancy funds on education and healthcare.

The speakers said the government should improve relations with Afghanistan, Iran and other neighbouring countries to ensure that their soils weren’t used against it.

The participants later dispersed peacefully.

BIRTH SPACING: Special assistant to the chief minister on population welfare MPA Malik Liaqat Ali on Monday stressed the importance of proper birth spacing to address the national challenge of resource imbalance amid a growing population.

He was addressing a conference for prayers’ leaders on the importance of birth spacing at a hotel in Timergara here.

Religious scholars and clerics from different parts of the district attended the event.

Additional secretary of the population welfare department Noor Alam, additional director general Ikramullah, religious leaders Maulana Inayatullah Islahi and Maulana Ihsanullah Khalis, social activist Kinaan Pasha and district population welfare officer Shahid Khan also spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said Islam favoured birth spacing for the children’s better health.

They, however, opposed abortion saying it is against the teachings of Islam.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2024