ANP re-emerging in KP, says Mardan nazim

PESHAWAR: Mardan Nazim Himayatullah Mayar on Thursday said that the Awami National Party (ANP) was re-emerging in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Mardan district, as wrong policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had disappointed the people.

Talking to The News, Himayatullah Mayar said that his party had concentrated on reorganisation and educating the voters, so that they could compare the performance of their government with the present one.

He added that the general public had realised that the ANP was their real representative party, which started works on mega projects and completed all roads, bridges, hospitals, etc, but the PTI government, instead of completing the ANP’s initiated projects, left them incomplete only on political grounds.

The ANP government spent Rs900 million on the reconstruction of Mardan Divisional Hospital, for which it had approved Rs1,830 million but the PTI government allotted only Rs25 million for it.“It will take 40 years to complete the reconstruction of MDH if the rulers do not increase the amount,” he added.

Amir Mohammad Khan Mega Park project, comprising 340 kanals land, was stopped and changed to a housing scheme. “This will deprive the Mardan residents of a recreational park,” he said, suggesting the government to establish more parks and stadiums for children and families.

Another injustice was done to Mardan when 300 kanals land, out of the 1,000 kanals of Bacha Khan Medical College, was allotted to women’s university, for which the ANP-led government had allotted Rs700 million. He said he had challenged the government decision in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

Himayatullah claimed that the PTI government had not initiated even a single mega project from Dera Ismail Khan to Chitral up till now and has not even started a single new project nor a primary school, BHU, etc.

He said the general public has also realised that the ANP had achieved 90 percent of its election manifesto, including provincial autonomy through 18th Constitutional Amendment, getting independence of judiciary through the 20th Amendment besides getting the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

“Now the provinces get 60 percent and federal government receives 40 percent,” he said, suggesting the government to work for getting more share up to 80 percent.

During its five years, Himayatullah Mayar added, the ANP established 10 universities, nine campuses, 46 girls’ colleges, besides 2,500 primary, middle, higher schools, which were more than those established during the last 61 years.

He said that his party’s government got all the provincial rights for the KP and one percent share from the federal government for being terrorism-affected province. He said it was the responsibility of the PTI rulers to promote tourism, increase income from natural resources, minerals, gas, etc.