KP govt to give Shuhada package to Asma family: Atif

F.P. Report

MARDAN: Provincial Minister for education Mohammad Atif Khan has claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkwa is planning to give Army Public School (APS) Peshawar’s Shuhada package like financial assistance to heirs of 4-years old Asma who was raped before being murdered on January 13 of this current month.

He was talking to office-bearers of Mardan Press Club in a meeting held here at his residence. MPA Zahid Khan Durani and other PTI local leaders and activists were also present at the meeting.

On the occasion, provincial education minister Muhammad Atif Khan said that the PTI-led provincial government was not doing any politics on the issue of minor victim ‘Asma’. He said that the KPK provincial government was determined to provide financial assistance like the Army Public School (APS) Shuhada’s package to heirs of Asma. He, however, said that there were some technical hurdles in providing such like financial assistance to family-members of the victim which were being removed.

To a query about MMA, Muhammad Atif Khan said that restoration of Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) would not affect Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in upcoming general elections-2018 in the province. He reminded that the situation and political atmosphere in the country and specially KP province was different during the general elections-2002.

Due to American attacks on Madrassas and religious seminaries during those days, people of KP province were mentally prepared that whenever MMA would come in power, it would not only take steps against American attacks and its influence but would also implement Islamic rule in the province, he added.

He said that residents of the province thought at those days that after coming of MMA into power, the provincial rulers would sit in mosques to resolve masses’ issues and disputes. He, however, said that people rejected religious parties in the next general elections-2008 and 2013 as the MMA during its tenure of power failed to do anything for Islam and residents of KP. “It will be difficult for MMA to become a strong competitor against PTI in upcoming general elections-2018,” he claimed.

Atif Khan said that instead of MMA government the PTI government had passed legislation against private interest business, also make compulsory translation and Nazira of Holy Quran in the schools. He claimed that PTI government had not only restored peace in the province but also reduced corruption to a great extent as well as also improved condition of government institutions.

Besides, he criticized the previous ANP government for its corruption, plundering and looting the public money being the nationalist party of the province. He claimed that they had finished SMS and Easy load culture from the province. Atif Khan said that the PTI government was taking steps to facilitate residents of Mardan district. He said that they had given contract of construction of a Mega park to National Logistics Cell (NLC) which would be established on 400 kanals of land near ring-road.

“Provincial government has allocated 2.05 billion rupees for the construction of Mega Park”, he added. He added that government will construct building for women university Mardan and allocate 2.5 billion rupees. He said that the provincial government was also constructing a family park at Bacha Khan Chowk near Mardan club on 24 kanal lands. Atif Khan further said that provincial government had established first women Cadet College at Mardan.

Atif Khan pointed out that in the last general elections the position of PTI was week in Hazara, Malakand, Dir, Buner districts and in southern areas however in the upcoming election PTI would also gained majority seats in these area. Atif Khan claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf would gain majority seats in the upcoming general elections and would make government in the province without any alliance. He added that several heavy weights would join PTI in the district in coming days.