Gul Hamad Farooqi
CHITRAL: A number of people including workers of PTI and JI, announced to support JUI-F candidate for NA-1 Senator M. Talha Mahmood during his election campaign in Upper Chitral.
Sarah Shah and Latifa Shah, a very active member of PTI, were among those who jumped the bandwagon of the JUI-F candidate who is lavishly using money to garner support.
Latifa Shah was also contesting election for PK-1 as an independent candidate and withdrew from the race in favour of Talha, who is from Khanpur area of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
Addressing a press conference in Booni, the two women said, “We are really impressed by the humanitarian services of Talha Mahmood, who is also chairman of Talha Mahmood Foundation. He continues to help the poor, affected and the needy people not only in Chitral but in whole country and abroad as well.”
Meanwhile, in Tech, Khot and other areas of upper Chitral, a number of affiliated with other political and religious groups also left their parties and joined Talha Mahmood.
In Garam Chashma, retired Subedar Amirullah, Qari Nizamuddin, Rahat Ali Shah of the PTI and a large number of councilors belonging to different political parties announced to join the party of Talha Mahmood.
Talha Mahmood also addressed public gatherings in Kujo, Mori, Barenis and other areas of Lower Chitral and said if they did not want to join his political party, the JUI-F, they can join his charity foundation.
He told them, “I am not like traditional politicians who seek vote in the name of Islam. I have been a member of the Senate for the last 18 years, but I have never received salary or any other privileges from the government exchequer.”
It may be mentioned here that Chitrali political parties and candidates for NA and PA seats have accused the senator of using money to buy votes.
The Election Commission of Pakistan also took notice of the allegations and summoned the JUI-F candidate recently.
Former MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali said the Talha Mahmood was spoiling the image of the people of Chitrali, including women, by handing them money and in return noting their national identity card and even mobile phone numbers.
However, Talha Mahmood has rejected these allegations and said that he had been doing charity work in Chitral and other areas long before the elections and would continue to do so after the polls even if he loses the race for the National Assembly seat.