Fate of Chitral uplift project hangs in balance

Image by Velovotee via Flickr

Daily Dawn - CHITRAL, July 1: While political parties want the suspended Chitral Integrated Area Development Project (CIADP) to be restored, social workers allege since the executing agency of the programme is ‘squandering’ huge uplift money it should not be revived. 

The proponents and opponents of the CIADP aired their opinions in separate press conferences held here the other day. 

The district heads of political parties including Major (retd) Ahmed Saeed of JUI, Zainul Abidin (PPP), Maghfirat Shah (JI), Abdul Latif (PTI), Sher Aga (ANP), Saeed Ahmed Khan (PML-Q), Abdul Wali Khan (PPP-Sherpao) and Siffat Zareen (PML-N) demanded of the government to restore the suspended development project. 

They said the important meeting of the planning and development department to be held in civil secretariat Peshawar should be convened in Chitral where they should also be included to express the real sentiments and problems of the people of Chitral. They said the meeting would be useless without the participation of the leadership of all the political parties. 

They, however, urged the concerned authorities to ensure transparency in the process of prioritisation of development schemes. 

In the second press conference, some social workers from Muzhgole area of Upper Chitral Islahuddin, Mohammad Safdar and others alleged the executing agency of the project named ‘Thrive company’ was squandering the huge public money. 

They clarified that the local MNA Shahzada Mohyuddin was also against the project and wanted judicious utilisation of the funds under the project. They said the project would not benefit the poor people of Chitral if the executing agency was not replaced. 

They suggested that the funds of the project should be put at the disposal of Sarhad Rural Support Programme which had already accomplished a large number of schemes in different sectors. 

GUJJAR LEADERS DEMANDS: The Gujar leaders Sher Mohammad and Anzar Gul have demanded of the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice against the misinterpretation of the verdict of the apex court regarding the ownership of forest in Sheshikoh valley by the district administration. 

Addressing a press conference soon after their release from jail, they alleged the local MNA had occupied the 52kms long forest of the valley while the court had decreed only 10kms length. Flanked by president of Human Rights Society, Haji Mohammad Shifa, they criticised the local police for registering case against them under the anti-terrorism laws at the behest of the MNA. 

They expressed their resolve that they would not bow down to the tactics of the MNA and would continue their struggle against the injustice. They criticised the PPP and said that the poor people were being subjected to torture while the leaders were boasting of championing the poor man’s rights.