LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) chief and former senior minister Inayatullah Khan on Wednesday flayed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for calling US President Donald Trump a peace builder, terming the statement a blatant example of “mental slavery”.

Speaking as the chief guest at an Eid Milan party in Maidan here, Inayatullah criticised Trump’s record, describing him as a symbol of oppression as he supported Israeli atrocities in Gaza. He said Trump’s actions surpassed even the brutality of historic figures like Genghis Khan. He reaffirmed Jamaat’s continued support for the Palestinian cause.

JI district chief Maulana Asadullah Khan, tehsil emir Haji Saeed Gul, and JI Youth Lower Dir president Atiqueur Rehman also spoke.

Inayatullah also launched a scathing critique of the federal government’s economic performance. He said the country was heavily burdened by debt while the recent federal budget failed to offer relief to common citizens.

Inayatullah says US president backing Israeli atrocities in Gaza

Questioning how a family could survive on Rs30,000 per month, he criticised the significant pay raises for parliamentary heads, especially the 600 per cent increase in salaries for the Senate chairman and National Assembly speaker.

On provincial matters, he accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of failing to restore peace and drive development in the region. He expressed deep concern over the withdrawal of Rs42 billion worth of development projects from Malakand division and delays in key projects.

He also condemned the ongoing suspension of the Balambat irrigation channel, which has left thousands of acres of farmland barren.

MEETING: Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Timergara Press Club held a coordination meeting on Wednesday to strengthen collaboration on climate change advocacy and community-based adaptation efforts.

The session was led by Ayaz Ali, assistant director of Climate Advocacy and Coordination for Resilient Actions (CACRA Phase-III) programme, supported by the German Red Cross. He briefed journalists on key environmental issues affecting Lower and Upper Dir districts, including deforestation, plastic waste, poor hygiene practices, and inadequate waste management.

Highlighting the PRCS’s role as a government auxiliary, Mr Ali emphasised the need for grassroots engagement under the Provincial Climate Change Policy and its 2022 Action Plan.

The policy outlines over 300 mitigation and adaptation strategies across critical sectors such as water, agriculture, health, and disaster risk reduction.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the press club to actively support PRCS-led awareness and environmental initiatives in the region.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2025