APC in Lower Dir rejects relief package survey by one party

TIMERGARA: All Parties Conference (APC) in Lower Dir on Monday rejected the ongoing survey being conducted for relief package in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The APC demanded the government to conduct a new survey by government institutions, including the army, police, social welfare and Local Government and Rural Development Department (LG&RDD), instead of workers of a political party. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Lower Dir chapter, had organized the APC at Ahyaul Uloom Madrassa in Balambat, with JI Lower Dir amir and former MPA Aizazul Mulk Afkari in the chair.

Awami National Party (ANP) Lower Dir president and MPA Haji Bahadar Khan, general secretary Malik Muhammad Zeb Khan, PPP Lower Dir president and former provincial minister Nawabzada Mahmood Zeb Khan, secretary information Alam Zeb advocate, PML-N Lower Dir general secretary Javed Akhktar advocate, JUI-F Lower Dir president Sirajuddin Khan, general secretary Javed Iqbal, Former MNA Sahibzada Yaqoob Khan, former finance minister Muzaffar Said advocate, former MPA Saeed Gul, Shad Nawaz Khan and Imranuddin advocate from JI, president Anjuman-e-Tajiran Timergara Anwaruddin, general secretary Laiq Zada, coordinator Dir Qaami Pasoon Jehan Alam Yousafzai, social activist Akbar Khan Lala, general secretary district bar Timergara Hameedurrahman advocate and others were present on the occasion.

According to joint declaration issued at the end of the APC, Rs3000 relief package for only 23,000 vulnerable segments of society, out of 1.5 population in Lower Dir, was termed as insufficient and it was demanded to increase the package up to Rs15000 at least and to wave off all kinds of utility bills.

The participants agreed that the Lower Dir trader community had been fully extending cooperation to the district administration by following its instructions regarding continuous lockdown but it was causing grave losses to business community and it was demanded that the district administration should arrange a meeting with traders to resolve their issues ahead of Ramazan.

The APC demanded early provision of 20 ventilators to Lower Dir hospitals besides provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical staff working on the frontlines against the outbreak. It was also demanded that special arrangements be made at all entry points for the screening of those returning from other cities and abroad. The APC rejected government’s decision of seeking permission from the district administration prior to launching relief activities. The APC expressed serious concern over formation of Corona Relief Tigers Force (CRTF) as the participants were of the view that it would hurt the national integrity.

The speakers criticised Member National Assembly (MNA) Bashir Khan for violating section-144 imposed on all kinds of public gatherings. The APC also demanded the government to arrange transport for those poor patients of cancer, thalassaemia and other chronic diseases who were unable to afford personal transportation for Peshawar, Lahore, Pindi Islamabad and other cities in connection with their treatment.

Representatives of all political parties agreed to form a joint corona coordination council for conducting joint relief activities all over the district. The APC condemned government’s alleged insulting attitude with Maulana Muhammad Qasim and other JUI-F workers.