PTI, ANP leaders come to blows in Swabi

SWABI: A clash between the local leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Awami National Party (ANP) was averted after some electricity poles were uprooted in Ahad Khan village in Razaar tehsil here.

An exchange of fire also took place late Monday. However, the district administration finally succeeded to resolve the issue on Tuesday. The incident occurred in Ahad Khan village where the installation of the electricity poles were sanctioned during the previous government.

ANP's former lawmaker Bushra Gohar said that she had given Rs100 million from her development funds for the provision of electricity in different areas of the district during the previous government.

She added that Ahad Khan village was also included in the scheme. It was learnt that District Nazim Ameer Rehman arranged the provision of power cables to provide electricity to a far-flung area in Ahad Khan village.

However, the ANP leaders alleged that PTI leaders started creating hurdles in the implementation of the project as Ahad Khan village falls in the constituency from where provincial Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai was elected.

"I am at a loss to understand why hurdlers are being created in the implementation of a project that will benefit the poor. If one person works for the wellbeing of the masses, he or she should be supported," Bushra Gohar stressed.

ANP leaders alleged that a member of the District Council Alaf Khan and some other workers uprooted the electricity poles. They said the district nazim re-installed the poles. However, PTI district president Anwar Haqdad said the poles were uprooted by the officials of the Irrigation Department as these blocked the water supply. He said the PTI workers were not involved in dislodging the poles.

When contacted, Alaf Khan said that they were not involved in removing the poles. He added the Irrigation Department had removed the poles. However, the district nazim threatened them with dire consequences when he visited the area. District Police Officer Muhammad Sohaib Ashraf said District Irrigation Office had not obtained the no objection certificate and the district government was now reinstalling the poles.

The issue was resolved and a clash was averted due to the role of police officials and district administration, said an official. He maintained that the poles were being re-installed.