NOWSHERA, March 13: Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Samiul Haq has said that despite the fact that his party was a component of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the NWFP government was creating hurdles in development of areas falling in the constituencies of JUI-S legislators.

He was talking to journalists at the oath-taking ceremony for office-bearers of Nowshera Press Club and Nowshera Union of Journalists on Sunday. He said the MMA government had not allocated any funds for development projects in the areas of JUI-S MPAs and MNAs.

He said majority of the people were facing poverty, unemployment and price-hike but successive governments in the past failed to solve their problems. He said drastic changes should be introduced in the revenue system and police department to facilitate the common man.

The MMA leader demanded of the federal government to restore religion column in the machine readable passports and also ensure implementation of Islamic system in the country.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad took oath from the newly elected bodies of the two journalist organisations. He also announced Rs200,000 grant for the press club.

Nowshera Press Club chairman Mushtaq Paracha and Nowshera Union of Journalist’s president Jehanzeb Khattak also spoke on the occasion. MPAs and MNAs, elite of the area and leaders of political parties attended the oath-taking ceremony.

Later, Sheikh Rashid called on veteran nationalist leader Ajmal Khattak and inquired about his health. The minister also delivered a message of President Pervez Musharraf to Mr Khattak.