Amid protests: Bafa named fourth tehsil headquarters of Mansehra

Decision earns the ire of locals, many of them take to the streets

MANSEHRA: Bafa has now been made the fourth tehsil headquarters of Mansehra district after Mansehra, Oghi and Balakot. The announcement was made at a public gathering in Mansehra on Sunday by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and drew the ire of many residents.

During the chief minister’s visit, hundreds of residents from Shinkiari and 12 other union councils held a protest and blocked Karakoram Highway for over two hours. They carried black flags as a mark of their dissatisfaction with the announcement and burnt PTI flags. Protesters also shouted slogans against Khattak and PTI Chairperson Imran Khan.

A majority of them wanted Shinkiari to be declared the tehsil headquarters. They also observed shutters-down strike to urge Khattak to either change his decision or keep Shinkiari attached with Mansehra tehsil instead of annexing it with newly created Bafa tehsil.



They urged the government to constitute an enquiry commission tasked with obtaining the consent of people regarding the creation of new tehsil headquarters.

Speaking on the occasion, Khattak said corruption was being rooted out from the province.

About the performance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government, the chief minister said unprecedented incentives were being given to the investors so that a new era of industrial development could emerge with thousands of job opportunities for youth.

“At least Rs4 billion have been allocated to improve the health sector,” he said. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2016.