Jirga opposes Tanawal’s inclusion in Oghi district

MANSEHRA: Opposing the integration of Tanawal with the newly-approved Oghi district, a grand jirga on Saturday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government for it, saying it was creating hurdles in the way of creation of Tanawal district.

The jirga, which was attended largely by people belonging to Tanoli tribe from different parts of Hazara division, was an unprecedented show of solidarity.

Arch political rivals MPA Muhammad Ibrar Tanoli and former provincial minister Habibur Rehman Tanoli also sit together and opposed integration of Tanawal with Oghi district, which is approved by the provincial cabinet at a meeting last month.

Nawabzada Fareed, the opposition leader in Oghi Tehsil Council, the offspring of rulers of Amb state, district naib nazim Ghulam Murtaza Tanoli, Jammat-e-Islami leader Dr Siddique and district nazim Torghar Dilroz Khan also addressed the jirga.

Ibrar Tanoli, speaking on the occasion, said that the PTI-led government had created rift among people in Kohistan.

“And now it is creating tension in Mansehra in the name of districts and tehsils and their headquarters,” he added.

“Zargul Khan, the political advisor to the chief minister, is responsible for creating differences among people in Kohistan and now he is announcing more districts and tehsils in Mansehra,” he claimed.

Habibur Rehman Tanoli lauded the grand jirga, saying that the government should give Tanawal the status of a district.

“We expect district soon and if PTI government couldn’t give us this gift then it should not divide our soil and people at any cost,” he added.