CM flays NAB for arresting director archaeology

MINGORA: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for arresting Director Archaeology and Museum Dr Abdul Samad Khan.

He was talking to media after launching plantation drive in Matta tehsil in the Swat district. The chief minister planted a sapling to start the drive.

He said that that in the next five years one billion trees would be planted in the province.

Responding to a question, Mahmood Khan criticised the NAB for arresting Dr Abdul Samad Khan.

“Abdul Samad Khan is an excellent officer who has done PhD in archaeology. If NAB continues to arrest people without any evidence, no one would like to perform his duty,” said the chief minister, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan had also taken notice of the arrest.

“It has shocked the prime minister,” he remarked, adding, his government would not tolerate such things.

Mahmood Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had full confidence in him and he would continue to work as chief minister.

“I have no differences with the governor of the province. Though we are facing challenges in the erstwhile Fata, we are determined for the development of the tribal districts,” Mahmood Khan said.

“Some elements are spreading rumours in order to create misunderstanding among us,” he maintained.

The chief minister said that the Swat Expressway would be opened to traffic on May 1. The Swat Expressway would help promote tourism in the entire Malakand division, he added.

Earlier, the chief minister planted a sapling to launch the plantation drive in native town Matta.

“We need to join hands to make it a successful drive. Plantation is necessary for life,” he said, adding that in the next five years one billion more trees would be planted.

The chief minister also visited the Bagh Dheri Irrigation Channel.

He was briefed that almost 5341 acre land would be irrigated from 21 kilometre long water channel being built at a cost of Rs923 million.

The chief minister said he would take all possible measures to develop Swat. “The PTI government is committed to launching uplift schemes across the province,” he said, adding, special steps were being taken to develop tourism spots to promote tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that in the previous tenure the PTI government successfully completed the billion three tsunami with a cost of Rs17 billion.

He said his previous government had successfully launched anti-corruption drive and took serious steps against the timber mafia.

The chief minister announced uprgradation of forest guards and said his government would encourage all government officials who delivered with spirit of national zeal.