Ziaullah Afridi blasts KP govt for ignoring Peshawar

Says certain elements in PTI misled Imran Khan

PESHAWAR: Former Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Ziaullah Afridi on Wednesday criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government for its failure to launch a single mega development project except the construction of a flyover in Hayatabad.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the government had shifted its focus from Peshawar to Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi and Dir. He was flanked by his supporters on the occasion.The Peshawar High Court recently granted bail to Ziaullah Afridi in all four references filed against him by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission on account of his alleged involvement in illegal mining and misuse of authority.

Ziaullah Afridi said the funds meant for the development of Peshawar were diverted to Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi and other districts. He claimed that the districts in questions got lion’s share of funds in the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

He said that “Bachat bazaar”, “Car Village” and “Safe City” projects that were announced to be executed in Peshawar only existed on paper and were yet to be implemented. He said the provincial government was going to initiate Metro Bus project with financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank even though it was against the manifesto of the PTI. “If Pervez Khattak-led government is interested in undertaking the Metro project it should cut development funds allocated under the ADP to Nowshera, Dir and Swabi and spend it on this important project,” he argued.

Ziaullah Afridi maintained that the provincial capital had been ignored and deprived of development funds during the last three and a half years despite the fact that the residents of Peshawar elected 10 PTI members of the provincial assembly out of the 11 seats in the May 2013 general election.

He asserted that a huge amount of Rs4 billion was being spent on building the protection walls and embankments of the Kabul River in Nowshera. He claimed the USAID provided Rs14 billion for improving municipal services, but the provincial government could only spend Rs1 billion. “This showed its inability to use funds for the welfare of the people,” he maintained. The former minister claimed that certain elements in the PTI had misled Imran Khan by giving him false briefings about development projects and spending of funds in Peshawar.

Ziaullah Afridi said he would launch a movement “Tameer-e-Peshawar” and seek the cooperation of all segments of the society for making it successful. He asked the elected representatives of local government to make efforts for attaining their due rights and share in development funds for Peshawar.

To a question, he said that PTI was his party and dispelled the impression of quitting it. He said he was released by the independent judiciary and not by the KP Ehtesab Commission that had arrested him on false charges.