Balochistan

Axe to grind: Party with axe symbol ‘deprived Khuzdar’

Shafiqur Rehman Mengal promises change in district, pays tribute to deceased BAP leader Siraj Raisani

Mohammad Zafar July 20, 2018

People protest after Shah Noorani shrine attack in Khuzdar that occurred in 2016 PHOTO: REUTERS

QUETTA: Jhalawan Awami Panel (JAP) Chairman and candidate for NA-269 Khuzdar Mir Shafiqur Rehman Mengal on Wednesday said that development of Balochistan and Pakistan are the prime objectives of his election manifesto.

Sharing the manifesto of JAP in his office in Khuzdar, he said, “Khuzdar’s development will be my prime duty.”

“We pledge with the people of Khuzdar that our party will serve for the people without bigotry and tribal hate because we have been contesting election with vision to develop Khuzdar by providing all basic facilities including education and health,” he added.

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“Unfortunately, the people elected from this constituency did nothing for the people of Khuzdar,” he said, adding “Era of ‘Axe’ [BNP-M’s electoral symbol] has gone as people here are fed up with so-called nationalists.” He said that they remained busy in corruption and kickbacks but people of Khuzdar are still deprived of the basic needs.

Shafiqur Rehman Mengal said that politicians with the symbol of axe have taken so many turns but now the people of Khuzdar want a change and JAP will reprieve the people from the sense of slavery.

He paid tribute to the Balochistan Awami Party’s leader Siraj Raisani who was killed along with 149 last Friday in a suicide attack in Mastung. “Siraj Raisani was a brave and patriotic figure of Balochistan and after his martyrdom, JAP will lead his mission,” he added.

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“During the time of martyrdom, Siraj Raisani called the youth of Balochistan and we heard his voice and will respond to his call by leading his vision of Balochistan and Pakistan’s stability,” he said.

Shafiq Mengal condemned the suicide attacks in Quetta and Balochistan including the blast on Lawyers’ community and on Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri. He added that JAP does not believe in violence as “we have been striving for peace in Balochistan.” He urged the people of Khuzdar to vote for JAP on July 25 as the people deserve development and prosperity.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2018.