LOWER DIR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Mohammad Azam Khan has said that the party will observe Feb 8 as a black day.

He was talking to reporters after attending a meeting with party workers at the Balambat tehsil chairman’s office here the other day.

Tehsil chairman Shakir Shoaib was also present.

The lawmaker said that the PTI mandate was stolen in the Feb 8, 2024 elections, and that was why his party had announced to mark it as a black day.

Mr Azam said that thousands of PTI workers from different constituencies of Lower Dir would participate in a protest rally to be held Swabi on that day.

The PTI lawmaker said that people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab had voted for his party but the public mandate was stolen and a hybrid regime was imposed upon the nation.

He said the PTI workers would no longer bear injustices with their leadership and they would take to streets to free the party’s founder Imran Khan from jail.

The MPA said that he himself would lead a procession of workers from Lower Dir to Swabi.

On the occasion, tehsil chairman Shakir Shoaib informed party workers that Rs50 million development funds would be equally distributed among the village councils.

He said local government representatives affiliated with other political parties would also get funds.

He made it clear that all funds would be distributed in consultation with village councils’ chairmen.

He said that each village council would get from Rs1 million to Rs1.2 million for small development projects.

He also announced that the PTI workers convicted by military court would be given Rs200,000, and special persons would be provided with wheelchairs.

PODCAST STUDIO INAUGURATED: Secretary higher education Kamran Ahmad Afridi inaugurated a podcast studio established by the journalism and mass communication department, University of Malakand, here the other day.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Rashid Ahmad, deans of faculties and heads of departments were also present.

Mr Afridi emphasised his commitment to promoting quality education in the province and highlighted various initiatives undertaken to uplift the education sector.

He lauded the University of Malakand’s dedication to academic excellence.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2025