BAJAUR/BATTAGRAM: Political leaders in Bajaur and Battagram on Wednesday alleged that the provincial government’s Ramazan support programme was being misused, claiming that the arrangements suggested the programme was meant to only favour PTI voters and supporters.

Addressing a news conference at the Bajaur Press Club in Khar, leaders of All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance said they were disappointed to learn that the quota for eligible individuals was being distributed exclusively among PTI lawmakers, leaders, and supporters.

The alliance leaders — including JUI-F deputy chief and Khar tehsil council chairman Haji Said Badshah, ANP president Gul Afzal Khan, PML-N leader Anwarul Haq, PPP local chapter president Haji Sher Bahadur, and others said like the citizens of rest of the province, the people from Bajaur had also high expectations that the scheme – valued at Rs12.8 billion, which is providing Rs12,500 to over one million of the poorest families – would only benefit the deserving individuals.

However, they alleged that reports indicated that PTI lawmakers, former election candidates, local government representatives, and senior leaders had been assigned to select the beneficiaries, thus undermining the utility of the scheme.

The alliance leaders demanded that the chief minister revise the selection process for beneficiaries to ensure that only deserving people benefited from the scheme.

Ask govt to eliminate lawmakers’ role in selection process

They also urged the opposition parties in the provincial assembly to raise their voice against the scheme’s process, pressing the government to ensure merit and transparency in this major public welfare initiative.

In Battagram, political leaders alleged that PTI lawmakers are misusing the provincial government’s Ramazan package, meant for the poor and deserving families.

The allegations were made during a news conference, where leaders from various parties criticised the PTI members for exploiting their power and influence.

Chappargram village council chairman Shoukat Hayat, Jamaat-i-Islami local emir Anwar Baig and others alleged that PTI MPAs and MNAs were facilitating their party workers and supporters from the Ramazan support package.

Mr Hayat claimed the provincial government announced the Ramazan relief package to support deserving people, but the chief minister directed deputy commissioners to consider only those people for entitlement of the package whose names were provided by the elected members’ list.

He added that they had come to know that the members were only including their voters and supporters in the lists, and questioned as to who will hold them accountable.

Mr Baig said these members were previously involved in looting public funds and were now targeting Zakat and poor people’s support packages.

The leaders suggested that if the provincial government was serious about delivering the Ramazan package to the needy, it should eliminate the role of elected members in providing lists to the administration.

They pointed out that there were many ways to distribute the package unbiasedly, using data from organisations like BISP and social welfare department, which are drafted on merit.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026