CHITRAL: The leaders belonging to various political parties on Friday lashed out at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its failure to curb corruption.
They were speaking at a rally in Lower Chitral, which was organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan under the banner of the “Eradicate Corruption, Save Chitral” movement.
Addressing the gathering, JI leaders Maghfarat Shah, Maulana Jamshed Ahmed, Wajeehuddin and Awami National Party Lower Chitral president Eidul Hussain criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government over what they termed rampant corruption in the district. They claimed that corruption in various departments of Chitral was even larger in scale than the Kohistan mega scandal.
The speakers alleged massive embezzlement of funds meant for the restoration of infrastructure damaged by natural disasters in TMA Chitral and Drosh. They also accused the Sports and Tourism Department of corruption in the Rs32 billion town beautification project, besides misappropriation of ADP, M&R and emergent funds worth millions of rupees.
They said that key development projects, including the Judicial Complex Chitral, University of Chitral and the Lawi Hydropower Project, had remained stalled for years, calling it a grave injustice to the people of Chitral. Serious concern was also expressed over illegal logging in the district, with allegations that a timber mafia, in collusion with certain officials, was endangering Chitral’s future. The speakers demanded strict action against those responsible for illegal logging in Arandu and urged that existing timber stocks be sold at market rates, with due shares given to local residents.
