CHITRAL: Jamaat-i-Islami, Lower Chitral chapter, on Friday staged rallies to voice concern over alleged corruption in development funds.
The party demanded that the government launch a transparent audit of money utilised in the Annual Development Programme and non-ADP projects, including the alleged embezzlement of Rs350 million allocated for flood infrastructure rehabilitation, and Rs370 million allocated to the Chitral city beautification project.
JI Lower Chitral emir Wajihuddin led the main rally at the Markaz-i-Islami.
Rallies were also staged in Zhang Bazaar, Chew Dok, Daneen, Singoor, Jaghoor, Mustajapanda, Shiyaqotak, Bakarabad, Broze, Gehrait, Drosh Bazaar, Shishi Koh, Jinjrait, Kolaktak, Ashrait, Arandu, Damel, Koghozi, Mori Lusht, Baranas, Ayun, Rumbur, and Bumburet.
Addressing the crowds, party leaders asserted that Jamaat’s ‘aggressive’ anti-corruption campaign has already sent shockwaves through corrupt elements, forcing them to hastily initiate long-delayed development works using previously ‘misappropriated’ funds meant for local mosques.
The speakers, however, reiterated that absolute accountability for the disaster management and city uplift funds remains non-negotiable.
They alleged that influential leaders of the ruling party, in collusion with government officials, are trying to ‘self-appropriate’ public money.
Resolutions passed at the rallies demanded that the district administration immediately make public its inquiry report on corruption complaints.
They sought the immediate dismissal of all government officials involved in the scams.
THREE DROWN: A woman and two boys drowned in the Chitral River over the last 24 hours.
A woman died after a parked vehicle plunged into the river in the Jughoor area on Thursday night.
Witnesses said Zahid Hussain, a resident of Upper Dir district, parked his car near Dawashish Bazaar and took his two children to a nearby ice cream shop, leaving his wife inside the vehicle. They said the car engine suddenly started, causing the vehicle to lunge forward into the river.
SHO city police station Bulbul Hassan said rescuers recovered the body of the 34-year-old woman near the Drosh area.
In a separate incident, a ninth-grade student from a private school drowned after falling into the river while playing in a nearby ground. Rescue 1122 teams recovered his body on Friday from a location near the Arandu border.
Another school student drowned in a water pond while swimming in the Broze village on Friday. Rescuers retrieved his body shortly afterwards.
Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2026