GHALANAI, Feb 5: Major political parties have started holding meetings in remote areas of Mohmand Agency to gain support of people in the upcoming general election.

“With the extension of Political Parties Act to the tribal areas, people have been granted the right to express their political views and raise their problems on political platforms,” said Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf local leader Sajid Khan here on Wednesday.

Jamaat-i-Islami leader Saeed Khan said that he would contest the coming election as a candidate for NA-36 in Mohmand Agency.

He said that the tribesmen were joining various political parties and they had a good understanding of political issues.

Farooq Afzal, Pakistan People’s Party Mohmand president, said that the political process was continuing peacefully because people here were in favour of democracy. He praised the PPP-led federal government for extending the Political Parties Act to tribal areas.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Mohmand Agency president Zar Khan said that the tribesmen were happy with the growing political activities in the tribal areas. “People here are not happy with tribal chieftains and independent candidates. Now they want development and their own status,” he said.