LOWER DIR: Activists of political parties and traders of Timergara city on Monday staged a sit-in against the worsening condition of the main road, and demanded its immediate reconstruction.

Jamaat-i-Islami, Anjuman-i-Tajiran Timergara, and Pakistan Peoples Party organised the protest.

The participants raised slogans against lawmakers for ‘neglecting’ public infrastructure and ‘failing’ to address civic issues.

Addressing the protesters, JI Lower Dir general secretary Shoaib Ahmad, traders’ body president Haji Anwaruddin, general secretary Haji Laiqzada, and PPP leader Alamzeb Advocate claimed the city had been turned into ruins under the pretext of a so-called beautification project. “Buildings have been demolished, roads have been dug up and left incomplete, and the city resembles a construction site,” a speaker lamented.

They expressed concern about the adverse health impacts caused by dust and debris, stating many residents were suffering from respiratory illnesses.

The speakers condemned the release of only Rs120 million out of Rs260 million for the project. They termed it grave injustice and questioned the government’s priorities.

The protest ended after the executive engineer of communication and works department and the assistant commissioner assured the demonstrators that rehabilitation of the road would start soon.

CONFERENCE: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s provincial deputy general secretary and former adviser to the chief minister Maulana Mohammad Rahim Haqqani has declared that thousands of people from Malakand division will participate in the Gaza Martyrs Conference in Peshawar on May 11 to express solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Speaking to reporters at the Timergara Press Club on Monday, Haqqani said preparations for the event were in the final stages.

He criticised the ‘silence’ of the global community and the Muslim world over the killing of Palestinians in Israeli bombardment.

Haqqani called for an immediate ban on Israeli products and vowed to resist any future attempts to recognise the Zionist state diplomatically.

COMPLAINT: Local government representatives belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf have expressed concern about being excluded from key party decisions regarding funds’ distribution and the ongoing district-level reorganisation process.

The concerns were raised during a meeting held at Balambat tehsil council office chaired by convener Sheikh Naseebur Rahman.

The participants criticised the PTI lawmakers for ‘bypassing’ elected LG representatives in party matters, causing disappointment and resentment at the grassroots level. They warned the provincial leadership against ‘imposing’ decisions.

A committee was formed to hold a meeting with PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan to convey their concerns.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2025