MPA distances himself from Shandur MoU

BOONI, April 29: MPA from upper Chitral Sardar Hussain on Wednesday clarified that he was neither a signatory to the MoU signed between the governments of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan on the holding of the annual Shandur festival nor had even seen the paper. He said he was also not present when the MoU was signed between the two sides. In a clarification sent to ChitralToday, he said that in the conference held in Peshawar he only stressed the government of Gilgit-Baltistan to end their boycott and attend the the annual festival. Mr Hussain said he had been invited to the conference where he presented the historical perspective of Shandur. The MPA said Shandur had never been a disputed area between the people of Chitral and Ghizer. However, on the dispute between the people of the two areas on the ownership of Langar pastures, situated in the east of Shandur in the Ghizer side, he had always the cause of Chitral at different forums for many years. He was of the view that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should take part in the annual festival in order to make it a big success and also promote the cultural relations with the people of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the regular holding of the festival would also usher in a new era of development and progress on both sides of the Shandur Pass. It would also promote business and employment opportunities for the people of the region, he added.]]>