Death anniversary of HQM founding chief marked

ABBOTTABAD: The death anniversary of late founding chairman of the nationalist party Hazara Qaumi Mahaz (HQM), Advocate Asif Malik, and the party’s foundation day were commemorated here on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, HQM Chairman Zulqarnain Khan Jadoon said that elected representatives from Hazara had failed to raise their region’s voice in the provincial assembly and instead acted as mere commodities for sale.

“Hazara Qaumi Mahaz is not just a political party; it is a mission which we shall pursue till our last breath,” he pledged.

He credited late Asif Malik for major developments in the region, including the establishment of Hazara University, the Education Board in Abbottabad, and the groundwork for Hazara Electric Supply Company. “Regardless of who claims credit for these achievements, they remain milestones of HQM and will always be remembered,” he added.

Expressing concern over the exploitation of Hazara’s natural resources, Jadoon said, “Our resources are being plundered, and the region is being pushed into darkness and crises. For a stronger federation of Pakistan, the creation of more provinces is imperative to address public deprivations.”

He said the day was not far off that Hazara, Bahawalpur and Karachi would become provinces, ushering in an era of prosperity.

Speaking on the occasion, former chairman Advocate Qazi Azhar recalled that the first resolution for Hazara province was presented in the provincial assembly in 1992, and later attempts were also made. “Had Hazara’s representatives united on one platform, the province could have been a reality by now,” he noted.

He also termed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) as a draconian law. “Initially introduced to suppress journalists, its amendments have now entrapped every mobile user. This black law is completely unacceptable to us,” he said.

The program was attended by Pakistan People’s Party leader Naheed Abbasi as a special guest along with HQM President Javed Khan Jadoon, senior party leaders, members of Hazara Students Federation and others.