MANSEHRA, Dec 31: District Nazim Mohammad Azam Khan Swati on Tuesday announced joining the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) at a meeting of the Nazimeen at the new Circuit House.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has already decided to award ticket for the Senate election to Mr Swati, who is a lawyer in the United States.

The decision has given rise to resentment among the local workers of the JUI-F and the Jamaat-i-Islami. They hold Swati responsible for the defeat of the MMA candidates on one National Assembly and six provincial assembly seats in the district.

The Nazim said he had taken the decision to join the JUI-F after consulting his colleagues in the larger interest of the people of the district.

He said he had made sincere efforts during the last one-and-a-half year as Nazim for the uplift of the district and he would continue serving the people.

He claimed that it was the fruit of his efforts that Mansehra had been included in the Barani project and Rs570 million had been allocated for uplift schemes in the district.  

He said the Seron right bank canal in the Pakhal valley with a cost of Rs220m, extension and improvement  of  the district headquarters hospital at a cost of Rs160m and the Azheera water supply scheme for the town with an initial cost of Rs10m were under way. He said more funds would soon be allocated for the water supply project.

He said the district government had made efforts for the establishment of Hazara University, provision of furniture and equipment to the schools, purging the education department of corruption and creating a sense of responsibility and discipline among the teachers.