ALPURI: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has suffered another major political setback in Shangla after the party’s active leader Khaista Rahman joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN).
He was a locally active leader who had been associated with the PPP for the past four decades but left it with a heavy heart due to the dwindling party position in Shangla.The foundation of PPP in Shangla was laid by Senator Sher Muhammad Khan, a close associate of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was later assassinated. Subsequently, his brother, former Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) from Shangla, Haji Badiuzzaman Khan, elevated the party to great prominence in the district and initiated extensive development projects at that time. He constructed schools, hospitals and bridges during his tenure and even bridges over local rivers and dispensaries and schools in upper regions were also established.
After the martyrdom of Badiuzzaman, his son Dr Afsarul Mulk entered politics and with strong public support was elected as MPA. Later, Engr Hamid Iqbal Khan, son of senator Sher Muhammad, was also elected as MPA.
