Political parties back bifurcation of Malakand division
TIMERGARA: Supporting the government’s plan to bifurcate Malakand division, political activists in Lower Dir on Thursday demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to name the proposed new division as Panjkora division with Timergara as its headquarters.
The activists from different political parties made this demand during a media forum.
Former Balambat tehsil nazim and JI activist Imranuddin said that Malakand was the largest division and it should be bifurcated administratively.
He suggested that a new division with the name of Panjkora division should comprise Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Lower Chitral, Upper Chitral and Bajaur and Timergara be made its divisional headquarters. He said that the population of Dir, Chitral and Bajaur was over 3.9 million.
ANP’s Imran Takur said that the bifurcation would help decrease many problems being faced by the people and the administration.
PTI activist Ali Shah Mishwani said establishment of new division would boost tourism in its jurisdiction. He said that scenic spots like Laram Top, Shahi Bin Shahi, Sar Lara, Kumrat valley, Kalash valley and Broghil were all situated in the proposed Panjkora division.
PML-N district general secretary Sardar Javed Tajak said that Dir, Chitral and Bajaur were kept deprived of development in the past.
He said these districts would see development if the government bifurcated the existing Malakand division. He said that the lawmakers from these districts should take up the issue with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.
PPP’s Fazal Hussain said that Timergara was located in the centre of Dir, Bajaur and Chitral so it should be made divisional headquarters.
Make Temargira as its capital never mind but name the division as Qashqar Division. Dir was part of Kafiristan before the advent of fleeing Yousafzais attacked by the army of Akbar. The people of Dir have adopted the language but share their lineage with Kohistanis and Chitralis.