PTI warns rivals against doing politics on road projects

CHITRAL: The PTI government has made allocations for the construction of Mastuj and Torkhow roads and work on the projects will start soon. But some elements are trying to ignite public anger by making it an issue and threatening to disrupt the annual Shandur festival only to achieve their political objectives.

This stated by PTI Chitral president Abdul Latif in a statement on Thursday. The statement was issued after notables of three union councils warned that if the government did not assure them in writing about the construction of the Shandur, Booni-Mastuj and Broghil roads by June 24, the people of Mastuj would block the road to Shandur by staging a sit-in on the Mastuj bridge before the start of the annual festival on July 7.

Mr Latif said Rs1 billion have been allocated in the budget for the Mastuj road but some failed political figures were making it an issue to sabotage the Shandur festival.

He said the people of Chitral were justified to ask these elements why they did not take up the issue during the last over 10 years when the PTI was not in power.

Now when the PTI government is all set to start work on the road projects costing about 17 billion rupees, why these elements have started such a negative move?

The PTI leader said the Shandur, Mastuj, Garam Chashma and Bumburate roads faced delays of years and when the PTI came to power it transpired that despite claims these roads had not been federalized either.

The PTI, especially its MPA Wazirzada, tried his best and got the projects federalized after which the federal government allocated funds for the Mastuj and Bumburate roads, work on which would start soon, he said.

He regretted that the MNA Chitral neither knew anything about the projects nor played any role for allocation of funds for the roads in the budget.

Now when the budget and PSDP have been finalized, there is no use of him shedding crocodile’s teams about the Garam Chashma road project in the National Assembly.

He said those who want to play with the sentiment of the people of Upper Chitral in the name of Mastuj road they would have to repent as work on the project would start very soon.