MANSEHRA, Aug 31: The Leader of Opposition in the NWFP Assembly, Shahzada Mohammad Gustasap Khan, has hailed the Muttahida Awami Mahaz’s victory in the local government elections here as a public verdict against the negative role of some leaders of the JUI-F, a component of the MMA.

Addressing a press conference in his office here on Wednesday, Mr Gustasap Khan said the people of Mansehra had given proof of their maturity as they had started to focus more on issue-oriented politics.

Mr Gustasap Khan said the pavement of streets and construction of drains was not real politics because funds for such schemes were channelled through the public exchequer.

According to him, people had rejected elements that had been claiming credit for such petty schemes as they suspected them of having links to organised crime. “People have rejected those elements that have been patronizing criminals,” he said.

Citing lawlessness as the real issue of the people of the district, Mr Gustasap Khan said people had wanted to rid their area of criminals and had therefore voted in favour of change.

He said that people had rejected the status quo and especially those elements that had been playing a negative and dual role in the past and who had not condemned the criminals responsible for lawlessness in the area.

Mr Gustasap Khan said there were no differences between the leaders of MAM Sardar Mohammad Yousaf, former district nazim Syed Ahmad Hussain Shah, MPA Wajeeuz Zaman Khan and Nawabzada Salahuddin Saeed and they were all united in the larger interest of the people of Mansehra.

“We are united and we shall collectively wage a war against the tribal and racial hatred, sectarianism and extremism and the organised gangs of criminals,” he said.

In reply to a question, he said that Sardar Mohammad Yousaf was the first choice for the post of district nazim and any decision in this regard by Sardar Yousaf would be acceptable to all MAM leaders.