TIMERGARA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl on Saturday rejected the candidates nominated by Jamaat-i-Islami, its coalition partner in Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, and announced its own nominees for two seats of National Assembly and five seats of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in Lower Dir.

Speaking at a press conference, JUI-F Lower Dir chief Maulana Zahid Khan, Haji Aminullah and Zar Naseeb Khan said that JI had announced its candidates for the National Assembly and provincial assembly constituencies without consulting JUI-F.

They said that the MMA cabinet was also not taken into confidence before announcing its candidates for Lower Dir seats.

The JUI-F leaders said that the party’s executive council and general body meeting was held in Timergara during which the party nominees were finalised.

Announces its own candidates for two NA, five PA seats

JUI-F provincial chief Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan would contest elections from NA-6 and Dr Mujeebur Rehman from NA-7, while for provincial assembly constituencies Akhunzada Hidayatullah would contest polls from PK-13 Lower Dir-I, Javed Iqbal PK-14, Mufti Khalid Mehmood PK-15, Maulana Huzaifa PK-16 and Maulana Wazirzada from PK-17, Lower Dir-V.

However, they said that they would wait for the JI leadership and would ask it to take the JUI-F into confidence before announcing any important decision.

Meanwhile, Lower Dir nazim Mohammad Rasool Khan on Saturday said that all segments of society should play their active role in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

He was addressing the concluding session of a workshop for political and social activists on ‘peace and good governance’ here at a local hotel. The Centre of Excellence for Rural Development had arranged the workshop.

Timergara tehsil nazim Riaz Mohammad and advocate Javed Akhtar also spoke on the occasion.

MALAKAND STATUS: The Malakand Trade Union and civil society on Saturday demanded of the federal government to restore the previous status of Malakand division which was disturbed after the passage of fresh constitutional amendment.

The demand was made during a joint meeting and a press conference at Chakdara Press Club which was attended by representatives of civil society, traders and tribal chamber of commerce.

Speaking on the occasion, advocate Attaullah Khan, Qaisar Khan and Haji Shakirullah alleged that the government had abolished the special status of Malakand division in the garb of fresh constitutional amendment.

They said that Malakand was a tax-free zone and no one was ready to accept taxes.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2018